A second detection of the destructive New World screwworm in Texas has prompted an intensified federal response, as officials work to contain the pest before it spreads further.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture on June 8 confirmed the latest case in a one-month-old calf in Zavala County, just over five miles from the initial detection. The agency also found the pest in a dog in Andrews County, an hour northwest of Midland, Texas. A veterinarian in Andrews County submitted samples from the dog, which early reports stated had recently been in Mexico, according to USA TODAY. So far, follow-up testing in the surrounding area has not uncovered additional infections.
USDA officials say the screwworm ‒ flies whose females lay eggs in open wounds on warm-blooded animals ‒ poses a serious threat to livestock and wildlife because its larvae feed on living tissue, causing deep, painful wounds and potentially significant economic losses for producers.
Last week’s discovery was the first confirmed U.S. case in roughly six decades, since the pest was eradicated in 1966. For more than a year, the parasite has marched steadily north through Mexico. The United States has responded by closing its border to cattle imports and investing millions of dollars into containment efforts, including building sterile fly production capacity, expanding trapping and increasing livestock monitoring.
Since the first case was confirmed in Zaval County, The USDA and the Texas Animal Health Commission have moved quickly, deploying a specialized Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service strike team, mobile lab units and additional diagnostic support on the ground. Treatment supplies have also been shifted into Texas to ensure producers have access to needed resources.
The USDA is urging everyone in the area to check animals for draining or enlarging wounds, maggots or egg masses, signs of discomfort and lesions in body openings (nose, ears, genitalia, umbilical area). Anyone who suspects a screwworm infestation should immediately contact their veterinarian, state animal health official, or USDA. Though rare in people, anyone who notices a suspicious lesion should seek immediate medical care.
A key part of the response is the release of sterile flies – millions each week by air and ground – to interrupt the pest’s breeding cycle, a strategy that has been used successfully in past eradication efforts.
Officials emphasized that the nation’s food supply is not at risk. Screwworms do not infest meat, fruits, vegetables, or other food products. Any affected animal would be identified during USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service inspection, and no contaminated product would enter commerce.
This article originally appeared on Wisconsin State Farmer: Second screwworm detections tests preparedness of U.S. livestock sector
Reporting by Colleen Kottke, Wisconsin State Farmer / Wisconsin State Farmer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Colleen Kottke, Wisconsin State Farmer | USA TODAY Network
