Screwworm is in Texas. Here is what to know.

Key Points:

• The New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasitic fly, has been confirmed in South Texas for the first time in the U.S., posing a significant threat to the state's $15 billion cattle industry and potentially causing $1.8 billion in economic damage.
• The screwworm lays eggs in living animal flesh, leading to severe tissue damage and death if untreated; it can infect cattle, pets, wildlife, and occasionally humans, with infestations requiring prompt veterinary care.
• The fly has rapidly spread northward from South America through Central America and Mexico, likely due to the movement of infested livestock, with the exact pathway into Texas currently unknown.
• Efforts to control the outbreak include quarantines, increased surveillance, sterile fly release programs, and FDA-approved treatments, though some proposed control methods have been criticized for ineffectiveness and safety concerns.
• Authorities urge livestock producers and pet owners to monitor animals closely for signs of infestation and report suspected cases to veterinarians or wildlife officials to prevent establishment of the pest in the U.S.