USDA races to contain New World screwworm fly in Texas

(NewsNation) — A parasitic fly whose larvae eat animals alive has reached U.S. soil, with agriculture officials racing to contain it before it spreads.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed Wednesday the New World screwworm fly was found in a calf in La Pryor, Texas, about 50 miles from the Mexican border.

It’s the first confirmed case in Texas since 1966 and only the third time in decades that the pest has appeared in the United States at all. Agricultural inspectors in Florida stopped a case of the screwworm from entering the U.S. on an imported horse from Argentina in early February.

What makes screwworm flies so dangerous?

Female New World screwworm flies lay eggs in open wounds, noses, ears, eyes or mouths of any warm-blooded animal. The eggs hatch into larvae that burrow deeper into living flesh. If left untreated, infestations can be fatal.

The pest can affect livestock, wildlife, pets and, in rare cases, humans.

Texas has the largest cattle herd in the nation, and........

© The Hill