USDA Confirms New Screwworm Cases in Texas and New Mexico, Threatening Livestock
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed three new cases of the New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite, affecting livestock in Texas and New Mexico. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service reported that two cases were found in Texas, involving a calf in La Salle County and a goat in Gillespie County. Additionally, a case initially reported in a dog in Andrews County, Texas, has been reclassified as the first case detected in New Mexico. The screwworm larvae infest warm-blooded animals, causing severe wounds and significant economic losses. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has escalated the state's emergency response to combat the spread of the parasite. The resurgence of screwworm poses a threat to Texas's cattle industry, which is already facing challenges due to the closure of the U.S.-Mexico border to live cattle imports.