Texas officials are warning hunters and outdoor enthusiasts to be on the lookout for a dangerous parasite. Although U.S. officials successfully wiped out the parasite in 1966, recent detections in cattle across the border in Mexico have animal health experts back on high alert.
The New World Screwworm is still prevalent in Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, raising concerns about its potential spread.
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Known as the “maneater,” the parasite begins when a fly lays its eggs in open wounds or living tissue like the eyes, nose, or mouth. Once hatched, the larvae burrow into the flesh, causing damage and even death. As infested animals move, the larvae fall to the ground and develop into adult flies, continuing the cycle.
Signs of infestation include the smell of rotting or decaying flesh, a depressed mood, or loss of appetite.
The advisory from Texas Parks and Wildlife was issued in December of 2024 as the parasite spreads through South and Central America.
Health officials said it primarily affects livestock and wildlife, but pets and humans can also be infected.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that eradicating the screwworm saved $900 million in livestock losses, but the risk of its return remains a constant factor.
To combat the threat, the USDA has allocated more than $160 million in emergency funds to protect wildlife, livestock and pets from the parasite.
Experts recommend covering open wounds and using insect repellent when outdoors as the best prevention.
[Karah Rucker]
HERE’S A HEALTH WARNING YOU MIGHT NOT EXPECT, THIS TIME ITS NOT THE COMMON COLD OR THE FLU.
TEXAS OFFICIALS ARE NOW URGING HUNTERS AND OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS TO WATCH FOR A DANGEROUS PARASITE BUZZING AROUND.
U-S OFFICIALS WIPED OUT THE NEW WORLD SCREWWORM BACK IN THE 60S…BUT AFTER A RECENT DETECTION IN A COW ACROSS THE BORDER IN MEXICO…ANIMAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ARE BACK ON ALERT.
ESPECIALLY WITH ITS CONTINUED PREVALENCE IN CUBA, HAITI AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.
DUBBED THE ‘MANEATER’ THIS PARASITE STARTS WHEN A FLY LAYS EGGS IN OPEN WOUNDS OR IN LIVING TISSUE LIKE THE EYES, MOUTH OR NOSE.
ONCE HATCHED…THE LARVAE SCREW INTO THE FLESH AND BURROWS DEEPER, CAUSING SERIOUS DAMAGE AND EVEN DEATH.
AS THE INFESTED ANIMALS MOVE, THE LARVAE DROP TO THE GROUND AND MULTIPLY INTO MORE PARASITE CARRYING FLIES.
CRITICAL SIGNS ARE THE SMELL OF ROTTING FLESH, DEPRESSED MOOD OR LOSS OF APPETITE.
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE ISSUED AN ADVISORY LAST MONTH AS THE PEST MOVES THROUGH SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA.
HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THE PARASITE IS MAINLY SEEN IN LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE, BUT PETS AND HUMANS CAN ALSO BECOME INFECTED.
THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SAYS ERADICATING THE MANEATERSAVED 900 MILLION DOLLARS IN LIVE STOCK BUT THE THREAT OF A RESURGENCE IS ALWAYS PRESENT.
THE AGENCY SAYS MORE THAN 160 MILLION DOLLARS IN EMERGENCY FUNDS IS BEING USED TO PROTECT WILDLIFE, LIVESTOCK AND PETS AGAINST THE SPREAD.
EXPERTS SAY THE BEST MODE OF PREVENTION IS COVERING OPEN WOUNDS AND USING INSECT REPELLANT WHEN OUTDOORS.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M KARAH RUCKER
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