New World screwworm close to US. More on the flesh-eating parasite

New World screwworm flies, a flesh-eating parasite, have been detected 25 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border in Coahuila, Mexico, raising concerns among officials about potential livestock impacts. The USDA confirms no confirmed cases in the U.S. but warns of increasing urgency to prevent spread, as detections have moved closer in recent months." "article": "The New World screwworm, a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on live tissue, has been detected closer to the U.S. border than ever before. According to the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data, the flies were found 25 miles south of Texas in Coahuila, Mexico, in late May after a goat tested positive for the infection. Officials warn the parasite’s northward spread, fueled by warmer temperatures, could threaten the U.S. cattle industry, which has been screwworm-free since the 1960s. The USDA has repeatedly stated there are no confirmed screwworm cases in the U.S., but detections in Mexico have grown increasingly closer to the border in recent months. Texas lawmakers, including Republican Rep. Don McLaughlin, have raised alarms, with McLaughlin calling the threat ‘at our doorstep’ and urging immediate action. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller echoed concerns, stating the impact on livestock is ‘just a matter of time.’ Screwworm flies, roughly the size of a housefly, lay eggs in open wounds or body orifices of warm-blooded animals, including humans. The hatching larvae burrow into flesh, causing painful, festering wounds that can become deadly if untreated. Adult flies have metallic blue or green bodies with orange eyes and dark stripes. The USDA and CDC emphasize that while the parasite poses no current risk to people or pets, its return could devastate livestock populations. Eradication efforts in the 1950s–60s used sterile insect technique releases to eliminate screwworms from the U.S. and North America by the 2000s. However, recent outbreaks in Florida (2016) and Mexico (2017) have demonstrated the parasite’s resilience. Dr. Michael Payne, a cattle disease expert at the University of California, Davis, noted the urgency to deploy resources quickly to prevent a potential border crossing. The USDA has not confirmed any detections within U.S. borders but is monitoring the situation closely.