Texas confirms new case of flesh-eating New World screwworm infection

• A flesh-eating New World screwworm parasite has been detected in U.S. wildlife for the first time, found in an elk in Pecos County, Texas .
• Recent infestations have also been confirmed in livestock across Texas and New Mexico, prompting increased wildlife surveillance and updated control zones.
• The parasitic fly, which was eradicated in the U.S. decades ago, has been moving northward through Mexico from Central and South America since 2023.
• Screwworms lay eggs in open wounds of living mammals, including humans, with larvae burrowing into flesh and causing severe, potentially fatal complications.
• The ongoing spread previously led to U.S. livestock import restrictions, driving beef prices to record highs and causing billions of dollars in economic damage in Mexico.

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