New Cases of Flesh-Eating Parasite Confirmed in the US
Flesh-eating parasite spreads further in the US, despite decades of eradication

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Five confirmed cases of New World screwworm have emerged in the United States, affecting livestock in Texas and New Mexico. Authorities urge vigilance among animal owners to prevent further spread of the parasite, which feeds on the flesh of warm-blooded animals.
- 01Five confirmed cases of New World screwworm reported in Texas and New Mexico.
- 02The parasite is a flesh-eating fly that lays eggs in open wounds of animals.
- 03A 20-kilometre quarantine zone has been established around the infestations.
- 04Public health risk is low, but symptoms include painful, non-healing wounds.
- 05Increased animal inspections will be conducted in affected areas to monitor the situation.
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The United States has confirmed five cases of New World screwworm, a parasitic fly that feeds on the flesh of warm-blooded animals, including livestock. The first infestation was reported last week in Texas, affecting three calves and a goat, with a dog in New Mexico also confirmed as infected. Dudley Hoskins, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, emphasized the need for vigilance among animal owners to help protect livestock and community health. In response to the infestations, officials have established a 20-kilometre quarantine zone to contain the spread. The screwworm was previously eradicated in the US during the 1960s and 1970s, but cases have resurfaced. While the overall risk to the public remains low, individuals in affected areas, particularly those in close contact with livestock, should be cautious and report any suspicious wounds. Symptoms of infection include painful sores that do not heal and the presence of maggots in open wounds.
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The emergence of the screwworm could threaten local livestock health and agricultural stability in affected regions.
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