A flesh-eating cattle parasite spreads beyond Texas as new screwworm cases are found
Summary
A parasite called the New World screwworm, which is a type of fly larva that eats living flesh, has been found in new cases beyond Texas, including New Mexico. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is working to control the outbreak by quarantining affected areas and using sterile flies to stop the pest from spreading and harming cattle and other animals.Key Facts
- The New World screwworm larva feeds on living flesh and infects animals through open wounds.
- Five cases have been confirmed: three calves and a goat in Texas, and a dog in New Mexico.
- The dog case in New Mexico is the first ever reported there, and the pet had not traveled to infected regions.
- Authorities have set up 12-mile quarantine zones around each confirmed case to limit spread.
- The USDA breeds sterile male flies and releases them to mate with wild females, reducing population growth.
- Scientists are concerned about the impact on cattle, livestock, and wild deer in Texas.
- Officials warn that more cases may appear as monitoring increases, but this does not mean the parasite is spreading rapidly.
- Investigations are ongoing in New Mexico to assess local fly populations around the infected dog’s property.
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