- The New World Screwworm, a parasitic insect eradicated from the U.S. over 40 years ago, has been detected in Texas, confirmed by the USDA in early June.
- This insect poses a significant threat to warm-blooded animals, including livestock, wildlife, and pets, by laying eggs in open wounds where its maggots consume healthy flesh.
- In response, southern states like Florida, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, and Arkansas have implemented new rules and guidance to prevent the parasite's spread.
- Florida issued an emergency rule restricting the entry of warm-blooded animals from high-risk areas, while Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared a disaster proclamation due to the infestation.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture is combating the screwworm by deploying sterilized flies, a method successfully used to eradicate the native population in 1966.
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