Federal agriculture officials announced Sunday that the United States now has 15 confirmed cases of New World screwworm after three more animals in Texas tested positive for the dangerous pest.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture shared the update on social media platform X, coming roughly three weeks after the first domestic screwworm infestation in 60 years was discovered in a Texas calf.
New World screwworm poses a serious threat to a wide range of warm-blooded animals, including farm livestock, household pets, and wildlife. In rare instances, the pest can also affect humans. The fly’s larvae burrow into the living tissue of a host animal, creating severe wounds that can prove fatal. Beyond the threat to animal welfare, infestations also carry the potential for major economic damage to the agriculture industry.
