Screwworm fly detected in Texas decades after cattle threat was largely eradicated in U.S.
PBS • • nation
Key Points:
- The New World screwworm fly, a parasite with flesh-eating larvae, has been confirmed in south Texas for the first time since 1966, posing a threat to the U.S. cattle industry.
- A 12-mile quarantine zone has been established around La Pryor, Texas, restricting the movement of warm-blooded animals to prevent the spread of the fly.
- The USDA has deployed millions of sterile screwworm flies to control the population and is confident the infestation will not become widespread or establish permanently in the U.S.
- Significant investments are underway, including new breeding facilities in Mexico and Texas, to produce sterile flies and combat the pest effectively.
- The fly lays eggs in open wounds, and infestations can be fatal if untreated, but officials emphasize that the larvae do not infest food and proper treatment can lead to recovery.