Lea County

The New World screwworm, a parasitic fly eradicated from U.S. cattle since 1966, has resurfaced in Texas, New Mexico, and surrounding areas, infecting calves, a goat, and a dog. The outbreak threatens the beef industry, with record-high prices and reduced cattle numbers, exacerbated by recent funding cuts to monitoring programs.

The New World screwworm, a pest that infests open wounds of animals and threatens the cattle industry, has been confirmed in Texas and New Mexico. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is deploying sterile male flies to combat the outbreak and has established quarantine zones around infected areas. Cases include three calves, a goat in Texas, and a dog in New Mexico, with concerns about potential spread to wildlife like white-tailed deer.

Three new New World screwworm cases have been confirmed, including one in New Mexico outside Texas' main cluster, threatening the cattle industry and prompting USDA-led containment efforts. The USDA is deploying sterile male flies to combat the parasite, which infests wounds and risks fatal infections in animals.

The New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite, has spread beyond Texas with new cases in New Mexico, complicating efforts to contain its resurgence. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is deploying sterile male flies to combat the infestation, which threatens the cattle industry but has not yet significantly impacted beef prices.

The USDA has confirmed the first case of New World Screwworm in a dog in Lea County, New Mexico, leading to expanded inspections of other animals in the household. This marks the initial detection of the parasite in the state, prompting increased veterinary oversight.