Pennsylvania Officials Implement Measures to Prevent New World Screwworm Fly Infestation
Pennsylvania is taking proactive steps to prevent the New World screwworm fly from entering the state. This parasitic fly, which feeds on the living tissue of warm-blooded mammals, was eradicated in the U.S. 60 years ago but has recently reappeared in Texas and New Mexico. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has issued a quarantine order for animals entering the state from affected areas, requiring them to be screened and treated with prophylactic medications. The fly poses a significant threat to livestock, as it lays eggs in open wounds, leading to severe tissue damage. Dr. Erin Luley, Pennsylvania's assistant state veterinarian, emphasized the potential devastation to the livestock industry, prompting these preventative measures. 
