Flesh-Eating Screwworm Detected in South Texas for First Time
Overview
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a potential detection of the New World screwworm in South Texas, near the US-Mexico border. If confirmed, this would represent the first breach of the pest into the continental United States since its eradication in the 1960s.
Background
The New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) is a parasitic fly whose larvae infest living warm-blooded animals, including livestock and occasionally humans. The maggots feed on living tissue, earning the pest the "flesh-eating" descriptor. Female flies lay eggs on open wounds or body openings of animals, and the hatched larvae burrow into the tissue, causing severe damage, infections, and often death if untreated.
The US successfully eradicated screwworm in the 1960s through an extensive sterile insect release program and has since maintained a barrier to prevent reintroduction from Mexico and Central America. The program has been considered one of the most successful pest eradication efforts in history.
Significance
The reported detection in South Texas raises concerns about potential re-establishment of the pest in the US. Eradication efforts had protected livestock industries from significant economic and animal health impacts. Officials will need to confirm the finding and potentially scale up sterile fly releases along the border to prevent an outbreak.