US screwworm cases rise as outbreak spreads beyond initial contamination zones

Key Points:

• Screwworm cases in the US have risen to 12 confirmed infections across Texas and New Mexico, marking a significant increase since the first case was detected in early June.
• The parasite, which burrows into wounds of livestock and other warm-blooded animals, had been largely eradicated since the 1970s but is now re-emerging amid record-high beef prices, raising concerns for the Texas beef industry.
• USDA officials are urging animal owners to monitor for infection signs and report suspected cases promptly; the agency has released millions of sterile flies to control the outbreak using biological methods.
• Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller called for expanded use of the Screwworm Adult Suppression System (Swass) to target and kill fertile flies, emphasizing a multi-pronged approach to containment.
• Pennsylvania has issued a precautionary quarantine order with stricter livestock import controls to prevent the spread of screwworm beyond the current affected regions in Texas and New Mexico.