sterile male flies

The New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite, has spread beyond Texas with confirmed cases in a dog in New Mexico. The USDA is using sterile male fly releases and quarantine zones to contain the outbreak, which threatens cattle and wildlife.

Three new cases of the New World screwworm have been confirmed, including one in New Mexico, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture works to contain the parasite's resurgence. The USDA is deploying sterile male flies to combat the infestation, which threatens the cattle industry but has not yet significantly impacted beef prices.

The New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite, has been confirmed in Texas and New Mexico, posing a threat to the U.S. cattle industry. The USDA is deploying sterile male fly programs and medications to contain the outbreak, while scientists caution vigilance may lead to more reported cases.

The USDA confirmed two new New World screwworm cases in Texas, bringing the total to four. The agency is using sterile male flies to eradicate the pest, which threatens the cattle industry and was previously eliminated in the U.S. in the 1960s.

The New World screwworm fly has reappeared in the U.S., threatening the cattle industry with its flesh-eating larvae. An infestation was confirmed in a 3-week-old calf in Texas, marking the first case since 1966, after the fly was previously eradicated through sterile male fly releases. Officials emphasize the fly does not infest food and is unlikely to disrupt beef production.

The New World screwworm fly has reappeared in the U.S. after more than 50 years, with an infestation confirmed in a Texas calf. The flesh-eating larvae pose a threat to the $113 billion cattle industry, prompting eradication efforts like sterile male fly releases. The fly was first detected in Mexico in 2024, raising alarms as it spreads toward the U.S.

The New World screwworm fly, which had been eradicated in the U.S. since 1966, has reappeared in Texas after being detected in Mexico in 2024. The fly's larvae infest open wounds of warm-blooded animals, posing a significant threat to the $17 billion Texas cattle industry. Federal and state officials are monitoring the situation as the parasite spreads, with historical eradication efforts involving sterile male fly releases.