Texas Faces Second Screwworm Infection, Prompting Livestock Ban by Canada
A second case of the flesh-eating screwworm fly has been confirmed in Texas, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). This follows an initial case in a one-year-old calf, prompting aggressive measures to control the parasite's spread in the state. Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced collaboration with federal authorities to mitigate the spread of the fly, which affects warm-blooded animals and humans. The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) is dispersing sterile screwworm flies to prevent reproduction. This is the first detection of the new world screwworm (NWS) in the US since the 1960s. The USDA assures that the US food supply remains safe, as NWS do not infest food sources. Canada has temporarily banned livestock from Texas, citing the infections, although Canadian officials believe the colder climate will prevent NWS from becoming a problem there. 
