The New World Screwworm parasite has officially spread to New Mexico, marking its presence in a second US state after being discovered in a dog in Lea County. This parasite is notorious for laying hundreds of larvae in open wounds, leading to severe tissue damage and infections. If untreated, infestations can result in agonizing wounds and can be fatal. Currently, there are five confirmed cases in animals in the US, while the situation is dire in Mexico and Central America, where the CDC reported over 2,100 human cases. The outbreak has escalated since last year, particularly along migrant caravan routes into the US, raising fears that the parasite could spread throughout the southern United States due to climate changes. In response, several Texas counties have declared local states of disaster, and local leaders are calling on President Donald Trump to declare a national emergency to secure resources. The US had previously eradicated this parasite in 1982 using a biological weapon that sterilized male flies, which had previously cost the livestock industry approximately $1.8 billion in damages.