Screwworm Parasite Returns to Texas After 60 Years of Eradication
By
Sabrina Imbler
The kind of bagel that ruins lesser bagels for you.
Summary
Screwworms, a flesh-eating parasitic pest, have re-emerged in the United States after being declared eradicated over half a century ago. The insects escaped containment in South America and have been found in Texas, with five confirmed cases in under a week across multiple counties and species (calves, a goat, and a dog). This marks the first appearance of screwworms in the U.S. since 1966, raising significant concerns about livestock health, agricultural impact, and the effectiveness of containment measures.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledThe screwworms are here, as we predicted they would be.
More than half a century after the parasitic pest was declared eradicated, the insects have escaped containment in South America and made it all the way to Texas, where they have not been seen since 1966.
There are now five cases of the flesh-eating parasite in the United States, all confirmed in under a week.
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