Flesh-eating New World screwworm found in Texas calf, USDA says The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed the presence of a New World screwworm in a 3-week-old calf in Zavala County, Texas. Immediate actions are being taken to eradicate the parasitic fly, including establishing an infested zone, implementing quarantines, and increasing traps. This detection follows a recent case near the U.S. border in Mexico and highlights the pest’s northward movement from South America.

• A New World screwworm was confirmed in a 3-week-old calf in Zavala County, Texas.
• The USDA is implementing immediate eradication measures, including quarantines and traps.
• A screwworm was previously detected in Mexico, near the U.S. border.
• New World screwworm maggots can infest livestock, other warm-blooded animals, and rarely, humans.
• The USDA has invested in tools to eliminate the pest, expressing confidence in its eradication.