- A flesh-eating New World screwworm parasite has been detected in U.S. wildlife for the first time, found in an elk in Pecos County, Texas.
- Recent infestations have also been confirmed in livestock across Texas and New Mexico, prompting increased wildlife surveillance and updated control zones.
- The parasitic fly, which was eradicated in the U.S. decades ago, has been moving northward through Mexico from Central and South America since 2023.
- Screwworms lay eggs in open wounds of living mammals, including humans, with larvae burrowing into flesh and causing severe, potentially fatal complications.
- The ongoing spread previously led to U.S. livestock import restrictions, driving beef prices to record highs and causing billions of dollars in economic damage in Mexico.
IN FULL
