Flesh-eating screwworm returns to United States, reaching Texas and New Mexico

The short version

• The flesh-eating New World screwworm has returned to the United States and has reached Texas and New Mexico, threatening livestock, wildlife, pets, and rarely humans.[ScienceDaily]
• Researchers at UC San Diego and San Diego County public health agencies created a tracking dashboard integrating detections, environment, and news reports to assess county-level risk.[ScienceDaily]
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture is conducting an eradication campaign using sterile insect releases, pesticides, and animal quarantines.[ScienceDaily]
• The specific origin of the infections in the United States remains under active investigation.[ScienceDaily]

Key facts

• The flesh-eating New World screwworm has returned to the United States and been detected in Texas and New Mexico.[ScienceDaily]
• Before prior eradication efforts eliminated the screwworm from the country, it caused an estimated $50 million to $100 million in yearly damage in the Southwest alone.[ScienceDaily]
• UC San Diego and San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency researchers built a risk dashboard combining confirmed detections, media reports, and environmental factors.[ScienceDaily]
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture is directing an eradication campaign relying on sterile insect releases, pesticides, and quarantines to restrict animal transit.[ScienceDaily]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• The U.S. Eradicated this flesh-eating parasite. Now it’s backScienceDaily - Health