All articles tagged with #screwworm
The New World screwworm, a parasitic fly that feeds on living tissue, has re-established itself in the United States after decades of absence. Confirmed cases in Texas and New Mexico have prompted strict animal movement restrictions and the development of new surveillance dashboards to monitor the spread.
U.S. and Mexico reopened the Douglas, Arizona border to cattle after a year-long closure, testing a new screening protocol that includes screwworm-sniffing dogs to prevent import of the flesh-eating parasite, following a Sonora case; officials say the process could enable more ports to reopen if successful.
Mexico plans to resume live cattle shipments to the United States under tightened screwworm controls, aimed at easing U.S. beef shortages and helping ranchers recover from disruptions, though the pace will depend on cattle weight gain and timing.
US agencies have repurposed hundreds of DHS drones to surveil wildlife and livestock for New World Screwworms in South Texas and surrounding areas, logging more than 1,000 flights and surveying over 22,000 animals. About 45 domesticated-animal cases have been confirmed, with drones—often infrared-equipped Skydio X10s—used to spot wounds or fever and aid AI-assisted analysis. While drones support broad surveillance, eradication still relies on Sterile Insect Technique, with new sterile-fly facilities planned in Moore Air Base, Texas and Douglas, Arizona, and continued cross-border efforts with Panama and Mexico amid human-case reports in the region.
Aug. 24 marks the reopening of the Agua Prieta–Douglas crossing to cattle after a yearlong closure to combat the New World screwworm; USDA deems Sonora and Chihuahua low risk, and Arizona will intensify screening with electronic IDs instead of ear tags to reduce trauma and infestation risk. The effort includes a joint sterile-fly program in southern Mexico, as Texas cases of the parasite threaten U.S. cattle herds and beef prices.
The United States plans to combat a flesh-eating screwworm outbreak in the southern states using flies and detection dogs, marking its first appearance in the country since 1966 (as of June 6, 2026).
The New World screwworm has reappeared in the United States and targets living tissue in livestock, but public health officials say it does not threaten food safety—meat is still considered safe thanks to veterinary care and strict inspection; the bigger impact is economic, with potential billions in damage to the southwestern US and potential higher beef prices, since infestations affect livestock health and supply rather than the safety or quality of meat already in the food chain.
The piece recounts how the U.S. defeated screwworms in 1966 via the Sterile Insect Technique—mass-releasing sterile flies developed by Edward Knipling and Raymond Bushland—after decades of outbreaks and early missteps, including Florida and Southwest eradication efforts and cross-border cooperation with Mexico; it warns that today’s re-emergence demands large-scale, preventative action and renewed funding for monitoring to avoid repeating past economic and agricultural losses.
Texas faces a potential surge in shelter euthanizations as the New World screwworm prompts quarantines across 13 counties; agencies, shelters, and rescue groups are coordinating inspections and treatment to slow the spread, while rural shelters fear overcrowding could force thousands of animals to be euthanized if movement is blocked and public reporting is encouraged to protect animals and public health.
US screwworm cases rise to 12 across Texas and New Mexico as the parasite spreads beyond initial zones, affecting cattle, goats, sheep and a dog; USDA is releasing millions of sterile flies and deploying the Screwworm Adult Suppression System (Swass) to curb spread, while Pennsylvania imposes import quarantines; officials say the food supply remains safe but the beef industry could be impacted if containment fails.
Texas’ beef industry faces a multi-front squeeze: the screwworm outbreak raises containment costs and risk to herds, while drought, wildfires and inflation push up inputs and logistics costs; together with tariffs and a consolidating meat-packing sector, ranchers, processors and barbecue joints are seeing higher costs and shrinking margins even as beef prices remain elevated.
The USDA is preparing a $1 billion-plus program to eradicate screwworms in the United States after the first U.S. case surfaced in Texas, with 12 confirmed cases mostly among cattle. Beef prices are already high amid a drought-depleted herd, and the outbreak could worsen prices. Politically, Trump officials fault the Biden administration and immigration policy for the spread, while Democrats tie funding cuts to the response; if more detections occur, the pest could become a broader political risk for Trump and the GOP.
Federal officials confirmed two additional New World screwworm cases in Texas, bringing the state's total to eight and the nationwide count to nine, as authorities monitor the outbreak and its impact on livestock and agriculture.
The CDC activated an emergency plan for potential human exposure to New World screwworm as four calves in Texas and a dog in New Mexico test positive, with the USDA leading the animal response. Critics say funding cuts weaken surveillance and preparedness across federal health agencies, while officials defend ongoing efforts and a growing consensus that early detection and rapid response are far cheaper than large outbreaks. Experts warn that future threats may stem from climate change and increased travel, underscoring the need for robust surveillance and readiness.
A revived New World screwworm has been found in the US (Texas and New Mexico) after decades of eradication, with researchers tracing its comeback to illegal Central American cattle trafficking; the outbreak threatens billions in beef losses, has involved a dog case in New Mexico, and has spurred discussions on control methods including sterile fly releases and the controversial SWASS tool, underscoring the need for cross-border action to halt the pest at its source.