Second flesh-eating screwworm infection reported in cattle in Texas | Texas
A second case of the flesh-eating screwworm fly was confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Texas, days after the first case in a yearling calf sparked an aggressive response to stop the spread of the parasite in the dominant cattle-producing state.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday that state officials are working with the federal government to slow the spread of the fly and infestation caused by larvae that feed on live flesh of warm-blooded animals and humans.
Authorities are distributing millions of sterile screwworm flies near where the twin infections were found about five miles apart in Zavala County, southwest of San Antonio. These sterile male flies will prevent wild female flies from breeding.
New world screwworm (NWS) infections are the first infections detected in the United States since the 1960s.
USDA confirmed second case. The first case was confirmed by the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) on Wednesday after NWS was detected in a three-week-old calf with an umbilical lesion.
“This is the first detection of NWS in Texas since northward progress from Central America was observed in 2023,” the commission said. he said in a press releaseHe added that an infested zone had been established in the region. The commission also said animal movement restrictions were in place to prevent further spread of the pest.
According to the USDA, the U.S. food supply is safe and NWS does not harm meat, fruits, vegetables or other food sources. NWS are the parasitic larvae or maggots of NWS flies (Cochliomyia hominivorax). NWS cause a painful condition called myiasis.
When the fly’s eggs hatch, the larvae burrow into living flesh and, if left untreated, kill the host.
The director of the commission, Dr. “TAHC has been actively preparing for the revival of the NWS for over two years,” said Bud Dinges. “We are putting these preparations in place and encourage all animal owners and caretakers to continue to be alert for the presence of larvae in animal wounds and to report any suspicions immediately.”
TAHC said the introduction of sterile flies “is a proven and effective tool to control and eradicate this pest” when combined with enhanced surveillance, movement restrictions, prompt treatment of wounds, education and outreach efforts.
Abbott also issued a statewide disaster declaration and warned that it would likely be an “extraordinarily difficult summer” for areas infected with the virus.
“We are in expansion season,” the governor said.
USDA discovered the second infestation “after testing a number of suspected cases,” the USDA’s animal and plant health inspection service said in a press release.
The detection of the parasite was a blow to US cattle breeders.
Now a widespread resurgence could pose a significant economic threat to Texas due to high labor and treatment costs, as well as animal deaths. The U.S.-Mexico border has been closed to live cattle imports for more than a year as the disease moved north, causing the $100 billion U.S. beef industry to fall to a 75-year low.
According to industry data, the U.S. previously imported more than 1 million cattle a year from Mexico; this represented approximately 4% to 5% of all cattle sold for U.S. beef production.
On Friday, Canada’s food inspection agency announced a temporary ban on live animals coming from Texas after infections were detected.
Cows and horses that have been in Texas within 21 days before crossing the Canadian border will not be accepted into the country, the agency said in a news release.
Canadian officials said NWS was unlikely to become a problem in the country due to the colder climate, but warned farmers to monitor their animals for injuries and any cuts “accompanied by discharge or foul odor.”
