WASHINGTON — A suspected case of New World screwworm in South Texas is currently under investigation by the USDA. The flesh-eating parasite has slowly closed in on the U.S. border over the last several months.
“A case of NWS may have been detected in South Texas. The sample is now at USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, lowa for confirmatory testing,” stated the USDA Wednesday afternoon in a post on X.
The most recent confirmed case of New World screwworm was detected on June 1st in a goat just 25 miles from the U.S. border.
New World screwworm is a parasitic fly that feeds on the living tissue of livestock, wildlife, and humans. The flies are attracted to wounds, as well as openings in the body, including the eyes, mouth, and nose. The flies lay eggs, whereupon hatching, the maggots consume living tissue and create horrific, painful wounds. The pest can easily become deadly for wildlife and livestock as these open wounds fester and grow.
“For more than a year, I have joined Texas ranchers in sounding the alarm while federal regulators have moved at a snail’s pace,” Texas Rep. Don McLaughlin said in a statement on June 1st. “Today, the threat is no longer hundreds of miles away. It is at our doorstep.”
The USDA is currently taking several actions to slow and halt the spread of New World screwworm, including the release of sterile flies, intense surveillance, and trapping.
“There is no doubt that this is a very, very serious threat to our livestock,” stated USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins in a media call on Tuesday.
For more information on reporting suspected cases of New World screwworm, visit the USDA response website here.