The flesh-eating New World screwworm has been found in U.S. wildlife for the first time, in an elk harvested by a hunter on a game ranch in Pecos County, Texas, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Wednesday, CBS News reported.
The USDA and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department are expanding wildlife surveillance in the area, and the Texas Animal Health Commission will adjust an existing infested zone. The USDA confirmed a case in a 3-week-old Texas calf in June.
The parasitic fly lays eggs in open wounds of warm-blooded animals, and the larvae feed on living tissue. Officials say it doesn’t affect food safety but can hurt livestock production. Signs include visible maggots, foul-smelling or growing wounds and weak or distressed animals.
The pest has been spreading north from Central America. Arizona ranchers and wildlife officials have been watching its movement closely, and anyone who sees signs of infestation is urged to report it right away.
Sources: CBS News. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: The Mexican-American Commission for the Eradication of the Screwworm / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
