The New World screwworm, a parasite that can infest livestock, has been found in the United States for the first time in decades. However, public health leaders have emphasized that it is not a threat to the nation’s food safety.
What is the New World Screwworm?
The New World screwworm is a fly that lays its eggs in the flesh of warm-blooded animals, including livestock. The larvae then hatch and feed on the living tissue, causing damage to the animal’s flesh.
According to Dr. Jonathan Cammack, a livestock entomology and parasitology expert, the New World screwworm is not a threat to food quality or safety. ‘Meat is still safe,’ he said. ‘It’s not even a true disease, like what we think of with a bacteria or a virus that spreads from animal to animal.’
Prevention and Control
The US Department of Agriculture has a thorough meat inspection system in place to prevent infested animals from entering the food supply. If an animal is found to be infested, it will be separated from others and deemed ‘US Suspect,’ requiring additional examination by a public health veterinarian.
Animals that have healed from a New World screwworm infestation may eventually end up in the food supply, but they would no longer carry the larvae. The USDA encourages hunters to be aware of the parasite and to report any infested animals to the local Wildlife Services office.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
