Flesh-Eating Screwworm Detected in Texas Cattle, First U.S. Case in Decades

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Washington: U.S. authorities confirmed the first domestic case of the New World screwworm in decades after the flesh-eating parasite was identified in a calf in South Texas, creating a major threat to the country's livestock economy.

The USDA reported that the parasite was found in a calf at La Pryor in Zavala County, near the Mexican border. The parasite's larvae feed on  live tissue of warm-blooded animals, resulting in severe wounds and death if untreated.

The discovery coincides with the worm's steady expansion northward across Mexico, where thousands of instances have been reported since late 2024. To prevent the pest from spreading, US officials increased surveillance, restricted animal imports from Mexico, and extended attempts to release sterile flies.

In reply to the Texas case, authorities set up a quarantine zone surrounding the infected area, restricted animal migrations, and increased trapping and monitoring activities. Officials say the epidemic looks to be isolated for the time being, but they're attempting to keep the parasite from returning to itself in the US.

The New World screwworm was wiped out from the United States in the 1960s due to a major sterilisation campaign. Experts fear that a larger outbreak may cause significant economic damage to the livestock industry, particularly in Texas, the nation's biggest cattle-producing state.

While the parasite can rarely infect humans, health experts say the immediate risk to the public is low, and the U.S. food supply remains safe.

Photo Courtsey: Reuters