A parasitic New World screwworm fly, identified for feeding on human tissue and laying eggs in open wounds, has appeared in Nuevo León, Mexico, roughly 90 miles from the US border.
Imminent Menace to Texas Livestock
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller describes the screwworm presence as an “imminent risk” to the state’s livestock trade and meals provide. He requires heightened vigilance to stop additional unfold.
Unfold from South America
Native to South America and the Caribbean, the screwworm has moved northward by way of Central America and into Mexico since 2023. Larvae from its eggs burrow into flesh, inflicting extreme and probably lethal infections in people and animals alike.
USDA Containment Efforts
The US Division of Agriculture deploys sterile fly manufacturing packages and surveillance groups to curb the infestation. Regardless of these measures, containment stays difficult.
