The U.S. Eradicated this flesh-eating parasite. Now it’s back
The New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite previously eradicated in the U.S., has returned to Texas and New Mexico. Researchers have developed a new dashboard to track the pest and assess regional risks to livestock and public health.
Why it matters
Early detection of this parasite is critical to preventing significant economic losses in the livestock industry and protecting public health.
In the 1950s, New World screwworm infestations inflicted enormous losses on U.S. livestock producers. In the Southwest alone, the pest caused an estimated $50 million to $100 million in damage each year before a major eradication campaign eliminated it from the United States and pushed its range south to Panama.
Now the flesh-eating pest is moving north again. New World screwworm has reached Texas and New Mexico, raising concerns for livestock, wildlife, pets and, in rare cases, people.
To help officials better understand where the threat could emerge next, researchers at the University of California San Diego and the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Public Health Services developed a new tracking tool focused on the parasitic fly and its larvae, which feed on living tissue.
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