First flesh-eating screwworm case in decades confirmed in South Texas near US-Mexico border
By
Beth Mole
FeedBagel synthesis
· 2 sourcesThe USDA has confirmed the first case of flesh-eating screwworm infection in South Texas since the parasite was eradicated from the U.S. in the 1960s, Defector reported. Five cases have been confirmed in under a week across multiple counties in calves, a goat, and a dog, according to Defector. The parasite was previously eliminated from the U.S. and all of Central America using the Sterile Insect Technique, which involves aerial releases of sterile male flies, bsky reported.
Soft in all the wrong places. Take with a strong tea.
Summary
The USDA has confirmed a case of flesh-eating screwworm infection in South Texas, marking the first time this parasite has breached the US-Mexico border since it was eradicated from the US in the 1960s. Screwworms were once endemic to the US but were eliminated through the Sterile Insect Technique, which involves aerial releases of sterile male flies to outcompete fertile males. This method successfully eradicated the parasite from the US and all of Central America, with Panama declared free of screwworms in 2006.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledScrewworms were once endemic to the US, but were eradicated in the 1960s amid a concerted effort to annihilate their population.
This is done with aerial bombings of sterile male flies, which is the most effective weapon against the parasites.
The mass release of dud studs elbows out fertile males, preventing them from mating with females, which generally only mate once.
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