Texas Calf’s Screwworm Infestation Signals Reemergence of a Livestock Threat

A New World screwworm was found in a three‑week‑old calf in Texas, marking the first animal case in the U.S. since the pest was eradicated in 1966. The larvae can devastate livestock and, if the outbreak spreads, could push beef prices higher amid concerns for the cattle industry. Authorities have quarantined the farm, begun treatment, and plan sterile‑male releases to curb the fly population. Humans can be infected, but such cases are rare; the larger concern is potential livestock losses and broader trade/price impacts if the outbreak grows.