The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed a second case of the screwworm parasite in Texas, specifically in Zavala County, located 5.6 miles from the first case detected earlier this week. The infection was identified in a one-month-old calf, as reported by Reuters. Following the initial detection in La Pryor, approximately 30 miles northeast of the U.S.-Mexico border, the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has been actively testing samples from the area. While surrounding samples have returned negative results, the presence of the screwworm poses a significant threat to U.S. cattle ranchers, who have been on alert as the pest has been moving north from Mexico. Screwworms, known for laying eggs in the wounds of warm-blooded animals, can cause severe tissue damage and potentially fatal outcomes if not treated promptly. The last major outbreak in the U.S. during the 1960s resulted in devastating effects on wildlife and substantial financial losses for ranchers. To mitigate the risk, the U.S. has maintained a ban on live cattle imports from Mexico for over a year and allocated millions for pest control measures, including sterile fly production and enhanced livestock monitoring.