The US Department of Agriculture reported a case of New World screwworm in a Texas calf, confirming the parasite’s return to the US. Ecologist Jeremy Radachowsky had long warned of the resurgence of the screwworm fly, which incubates exclusively in the wounds or orifices of warm-blooded animals.

Illegal Cattle Smuggling

Radachowsky and other researchers have warned that illegal cattle smuggling has quickened the return of screwworm to its ceded territory in Central America. The parasite had previously been eradicated in North and Central America through a multimillion-dollar, decades-long program of fly sterilization led by the United States.

Cattle trafficking is a long-standing issue in Central America, where organized crime groups smuggle livestock, some of which carry screwworm, across borders without legitimate health screenings. The influx of cattle and their traffickers into the forests of Central America has had serious consequences, including receding tree cover, growing violence, and the spread of new diseases.

Government Response

The USDA and the Mexican Agriculture Department have announced new efforts in breeding and releasing sterilized flies to hamper the spread of screwworm. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has been a critic of the US response to screwworm, demanding that the USDA begin using the Screwworm Adult Suppression System (SWASS) in addition to sterile fly releases.

The USDA has pushed back on Miller’s claims, citing environmental concerns and the potential harm to sterile flies. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s office declined to comment on the issue.

The screwworm’s return to the US has significant implications for the beef industry, with the potential to cost billions of dollars in damage. The USDA has closed southern border ports to livestock from Mexico to prevent transmission, but the parasite continues to spread.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.