THATCHER — Arizona agriculture officials have confirmed another case of New World screwworm, this time in a pet dog in Graham County.
The Arizona Department of Agriculture said Friday, Nov. 6, the case was found near Thatcher. The dog had no known history of travel, according to the department, as reported by ABC15.
The new case follows two found Wednesday in a horse and a ram. Arizona’s first case was recorded in a dog in Cochise County. AZFamily reported the Graham County dog brings the state total to five.
New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on living tissue in open wounds. The USDA says it can affect livestock, pets, wildlife and, less commonly, people.
State officials are asking animal owners to check their animals daily for wounds and to report anything that looks like a screwworm infestation to the department at diseasereporting@azda.gov or 602-542-4293, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sources: ABC15, AZFamily. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: USDAgov / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
