The New World screwworm has been found in the United States for the first time in nearly 60 years. It’s a flesh-easting parasite that can kill animals including livestock. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the deadly bug was found in a calf in Texas, 30 miles north of Mexican border. Strain says its discovery in the United States has already led to an increase in beef prices.
“We’re going to do whatever we need to do to stop it. Because, if we don’t stop it, we’ll have a significant and long-term impact on the cost and affordability of beef,” Strain said.
The New World screwworm had been eradicated from the United States since 1960s, but it has been moving closer to the U.S. through transmission between cattle in Mexico. Strain says they can stop the spread by unleashing sterile flies.
“The United States Government is spending more than $8 billion on sterile fly production to try to curtail and stop this particular pest from getting into the commercial production aspect of beef and other protein,” Strain explained.
Strain says sterilized male flies are used, because they mate with the female screwworms and no offspring is produced.
“The whole goal is to stop them from feeding, stop them from spreading, stop them from having viable reproduction,” Strain noted.
Strain says the New World screwworm is a low risk to humans.