New World screw worm detected in South Texas
State and federal agriculture officials confirmed the New World screw worm, Cochliomyia hominivorax, in a calf in South Texas, the first U.S. detection since the species was declared eradicated in 1966. The screw worm fly lays eggs in open wounds and its larvae feed on living tissue, causing myiasis that can kill untreated animals and devastate herds. The species was eliminated in the 1960s through a decades-long sterile insect program that releases sterilized male flies to stop breeding. Containment now focuses on treating affected animals, quarantines, and renewing sterile-fly releases because rapid action is essential to prevent major economic losses for Texas ranchers and regional cattle markets.
1/ New World Screwworm has been confirmed in the U.S. for the first time since 1966. A 3-week-old calf in La Pryor, Texas (near the U.S.-Mexico border) tested positive. This may seem niche, but it’s a big deal. Here's what you need to know. 🧵
Your Local Epidemiologist492/ New World Screwworm (NWS) is a parasite that was fully eradicated from the U.S. in 1966. The NWS fly lays eggs in open wounds, and when the eggs hatch, the larvae burrow into living flesh. It's exactly as bad as it sounds and fatal to animals if untreated.
Anser Delira8Here’s what they look like.
Aster Vérité2Dueling psychopath's 'efficiency' cuts likely just eliminated even hamburger helper from struggling american's tables. By gutting parasite screening to save pennies, Musk & trump let the screwworm march into Texas like General Santa Anna at the Alamo. Texas cattle bein eaten alive #ForcedVeganism
This is bad. The parasitic New World screwworm has been found inside the United States, in a calf in Texas. Announced by the USDA one day after the USDA Secretary publicly rebuked a Texas state rep for saying the parasite had advanced close to the border. www.aphis.usda.gov/news/agency-...
Maryn McKenna23Screwworms burrow into living animals; they are horrifically destructive. (For bonus nightmare points, they can also infect pets and, rarely, humans.) NWS cost the US cattle industry hundreds of millions yearly until a huge effort drove it out in the 1960s. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Key qualification for Trump’s cabinet appointment is to be totally unqualified for said position. Who knew Secretary of Agriculture qualifications might impact everyday Americans 🤷🏼♀️
big deal, half the posters in this place are flesh-eating screw worms
daryl "criss angel's thesis" b 🏳️⚧️8thought this was just about the white african refugees
Damnit Janet5I've eaten some flesh in my time but I never screwed a worm
RISKINVERSE 🍉3“I would just not let them eat me” they said.
Ben Says Abolish ICE2I'm a screw-eating fleshworm, thank you very much!
no one2flesh is a democrat’s favorite food
The first U.S. case of New World Screwworm has been confirmed in Texas. New Mexico ranchers are worried. We need to take this threat seriously NOW and do everything we can to protect our livestock, wildlife, and rural communities.
Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández13Congress should pass the STOP Screwworms Act I co-sponsored and the USDA should reinstate the 25% of personnel lost at APHIS. Spread of the screwworm would hurt our ranchers, and increase the cost of beef. We will keep monitoring. Please, let us know if we can help you.
timplex.bsky.social3And please identify and call out the Trump budget cuts that helped let this happen!
empiresofwaste.bsky.social3So... New World Screwworm isn't a new nickname for Stephen Miller..?
jsev44.bsky.social3I’m sure the administration is on it 🙄
