Flesh-eating screwworm has reached the US - a comeback driven by organized crime

Key Points:

• The New World screwworm, a parasitic fly previously eradicated in North and Central America, has reemerged in the US, with recent cases detected in Texas and New Mexico, largely due to illegal cattle smuggling from Central America.
• Illegal cattle trafficking by organized crime groups not only spreads screwworm but also contributes to deforestation, violence, and the transmission of other diseases like avian flu and tuberculosis.
• The USDA and Mexican Agriculture Department are responding with sterile fly releases, but there is disagreement over pest control methods, including the controversial use of the Screwworm Adult Suppression System (SWASS).
• Experts emphasize the need for coordinated action among the US, Mexico, and Central American governments to stop illegal cattle movement at its source to prevent further spread and economic damage to the beef industry.
• The screwworm also affects dogs and other animals, complicating control efforts, and while eradication in South America is unlikely due to the fly being native, there are growing concerns about its potential spread to other continents.