Flesh-Eating Screwworm Detected in Texas for First Time in Decades

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed the first case of New World screwworm in South Texas, marking the parasite's return to the United States decades after it was eliminated nationwide.

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said the case was found in a three-week-old calf in Zavala County, about 60 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. The confirmation followed laboratory testing, and officials say no other cases have been reported so far.

The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, including livestock, wildlife, pets and, in rare cases, humans. Untreated infestations can lead to serious injuries and death.

Federal authorities said the U.S. food supply remains safe, noting that screwworms do not infest meat, fruits, vegetables or other food products. In response, officials have established a quarantine zone, increased surveillance and trapping activities, and stepped up the release of sterile flies to prevent the pest from reproducing.

The parasite was eradicated from the United States in the 1960s through a sterile-fly programme. However, it has recently spread northward through Mexico. Earlier this week, a case was confirmed in Mexico's Coahuila state near the Texas border. Texas officials have already launched prevention measures, including plans for a new 750-million-dollar facility to help stop the parasite's spread.