With the presence of a deadly, flesh-eating parasite in the U.S. growing greater by the day, federal and Texas officials are taking serious steps to stop a potential invasion and protect the country's livestock.

Officials say the screwworm has the potential to devastate the cattle industry, send beef prices soaring and kill wildlife.

Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins held a joint news conference Friday to announce new efforts to combat the New World screwworm.