Texas has secured immediate federal funding to hire additional livestock inspectors and reinforce its field operations against an ongoing outbreak of the parasitic New World screwworm, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday.

The funding comes through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

The money will allow the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) to add 15 term positions, including 10 field inspectors alongside emergency management and epidemiology specialists, to expand containment efforts.