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Parasitic Fly Outbreak: 12 Cases Confirmed, Fear Spreads
15 Jun
Summary
- The USDA confirmed 12 New World screwworm cases, including one in a dog.
- Texas has confirmed 11 cases, with expanded quarantine zones now in effect.
- The parasitic fly was eradicated from the U.S. in the 1960s but has returned.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed 12 cases of the New World screwworm, a parasitic fly that was eradicated from the United States in the 1960s. The current outbreak includes one case in a pet dog in New Mexico, with the remaining 11 cases affecting cattle and other livestock in Texas. This development has raised significant concerns among ranchers and agriculture officials about the pest spreading to new areas.
In response, Texas animal health officials confirmed 11 cases statewide and expanded quarantine zones to contain the outbreak, preventing livestock from leaving without authorization. Ranchers are emphasizing the importance of early detection and vigilance in monitoring their animals. The USDA is deploying sterile male flies, a key tool for combating the pest, which mate with females but do not produce offspring, thus suppressing the population.
Health officials in several other states, including New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma, California, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, are urging farmers and ranchers to monitor and report any suspected cases. The outbreak adds further challenges to the cattle industry, which is already facing rising beef prices, with experts warning of potential further increases if the pest is not contained.
