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Posted on 08/28/2025 12:53:57 AM PDT by nickcarraway
A report from the USDA last year estimated an outbreak of screwworm could cost Texas at least $1.8 billion due to livestock deaths, labor costs and medication.
The first human case of the flesh-eating parasite new world screwworm has been detected in the United States, the Department of Health and Human Services said early Monday.
The case, related to a person who had recently traveled to El Salvador, was confirmed to be screwworm by the CDC on Aug. 4, HHS spokesman Andrew G. Nixon confirmed to Reuters, who first reported the story.
"The risk to public health in the United States from this introduction is very low," he said.
Reuters reported last week, citing U.S. beef industry sources, that a person in Maryland contracted the parasite after visiting Guatemala — it's unclear whether that report concerns the same case.
NBC News has contacted the DHH and authorities in Maryland but had not received a response by the time of publication.
The parasite — the larvae of the new world screwworm fly — can devastate cattle herds and is rife in parts of Central America, including Mexico. It can destroy wildlife and even kill household pets.
There were serious outbreaks in the 1980s and 1990s in Central America and it was eradicated at great expense, only to return in the last two years.
Health
Health 4 hours ago Texas enacts MAHA bills as RFK Jr. joins Gov. Abbott for signing ceremony
Vaccines 5 hours ago Why getting a COVID-19 vaccine is likely to be more complicated this year U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins traveled to Texas to announce a five-part plan to combat the screwworm on Aug. 15
This includes plans to breed billions of sterile flies and dump them from the air over southern Texas and Mexico in the hope of stopping the parasite's spread.
The sterilized male flies mate with females, but the eggs don't hatch. Eventually, the population reduces and dies out. This technique worked in the 1960s when the U.S. suffered its last screwworm outbreak.
And the federal government may face calls to accelerate its work on this: When first announced in June, the sterilization plan wasn't due to be operational for "two to three years."
Texas Gov. Greg Abbot, commenting on the federal government scheme, said the state agriculture industry, with its 2 million jobs, was worth $867 billion. "All of this is at risk because of the New World screwworm."
A report from the USDA last year estimated an outbreak of screwworm could cost Texas at least $1.8 billion due to livestock deaths, labor costs and medication.
The little parasitic flies — also known as cochliomyia hominivorax — have an effect that's vast and devastating, but in isolation quite disgusting. The females can lay eggs in any warm-blooded animal, which then hatch unleashing hundreds of screwworm larvae, so-called because of their sharp mouths and their burrowing being compared to the motion of a screw.
Human infections can be fatal but are rare and most cases can be treated.
The USDA has said that screwworms have been making their way north into Mexico from other parts of Central America. The fly is endemic in Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and some South South American nations it said.
Mexico reported a case in Ixhuatlan de Madero, Veracruz, in July, 370 miles from the Texas border, prompting DHH to immediately shut down cross-border cattle trade, following similar stops in November and May.
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I think we know who the infected party is...Az Joe.
Flesh-eating parasite? My Ex!
The sole purpose of the term “flesh-eating” is not to inform, but to make people afraid.
Ivermectin is effective against screwworm, both in humans and in animals.
Veterinary ivermectin is currently available and inexpensive. Texas is currently considering a law to legalize over-the-counter ivermectin.
Ivermectin can be used as a preventative.
Good for Texas to do such a thing.
And it looks like it works far too well.
Have to be careful though as it can be absorbed through skin and can overdose IF too much is used. But using small amounts a few times a day is fine.
Hradline is worded badly...unless they really meant the first case rather than the first detection.
Most screwworms come from El Salvador. The Home of the Abrego Kid. The DNC’s favorite El Salvadoran Illegal Alien Invader Screwworm.
I believe there was an incident about 55 years ago in which a migrant laborer accidentally brought screw worms into the USA IN HER NOSE. She died a horrible death.
Thanks ILLEGAL aliens!!!
Losers.
No, it doesn’t work.
They wanted to scare everyone, but they failed.
Just like they wanted everyone to take the jab.
And just like they wanted the 2016 election.
THEY NEVER THOUGHT SHE WOULD LOSE
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