Screwworm Infestation Returns to US After Decades
A flesh-eating parasite, the screwworm, has been found in Texas and New Mexico, marking the first infestation in the US since the 1980s. The US has been free of screwworm due to a decades-long eradication program, but the recent cases are a concern for the livestock industry.
Key points
- The screwworm parasite was found in a three-week-old calf near La Pryor, Texas, on June 3, with dozens more cases discovered in Texas and New Mexico since then.
- This marks the first screwworm infestation in the US since the 1980s, despite a decades-long program to eradicate the parasite by breeding it out of existence.
- The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed the cases, and the infestation is a concern for the livestock industry.
- The screwworm is a flesh-eating parasite that attacks wildlife, cattle, sheep, and goats, causing significant economic losses.
- The USDA's eradication program has been successful in keeping the screwworm out of the US for decades, but the recent cases indicate a possible breach in the program's effectiveness.
Screwworm Infestation Returns to US After Decades
A flesh-eating parasite, the screwworm, has been found in Texas and New Mexico, marking the first infestation in the US since the 1980s. The US has been free of screwworm due to a decades-long eradication program, but the recent cases are a concern for the livestock industry.
The screwworm parasite was found in a three-week-old calf near La Pryor, Texas, on June 3, with dozens more cases discovered in Texas and New Mexico since then. This marks the first screwworm infestation in the US since the 1980s, despite a decades-long program to eradicate the parasite by breeding it out of existence.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed the cases, and the infestation is a concern for the livestock industry. The screwworm is a flesh-eating parasite that attacks wildlife, cattle, sheep, and goats, causing significant economic losses.
The USDA's eradication program has been successful in keeping the screwworm out of the US for decades, but the recent cases indicate a possible breach in the program's effectiveness.
Sources
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