Israel and Iran step back from renewed conflict after Trump calls for halt
Tensions ease as Israel and Iran stop attacks following Trump's appeal.
The Guardian World1 min read
Alarm as once-eradicated flesh-eating parasite found in calf in Texas
TL;DR
A flesh-eating parasite, the New World screwworm fly, has been found in a calf in Texas, raising concerns for the cattle industry. This parasite, eradicated in the US since the 1970s, poses a risk to livestock, especially near the Mexico border.
Key points
- Flesh-eating parasite found in a calf in Texas
- New World screwworm fly confirmed near Mexico border
- Parasite poses risk to livestock health
- Eradicated from the US in the 1970s
- Concerns for cattle industry amid rising beef prices
Mentioned in this story
Texas
New World screwworm fly
A flesh-eating parasite rarely seen in the US in six decades has been found in a calf in Texas, agriculture officials said, in an alarming development for the country’s cattle industry.
The New World screwworm fly (NWS) was confirmed in the animal in the south of the state, about 50 miles from the Mexico border, Brooke Rollins, the agriculture secretary, said late on Wednesday.
For more than a year, the US agriculture department (USDA) and officials in Texas have been warning livestock owners about the parasite’s progression across Mexico.
The screwworm fly’s larvae feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals, and while the risk to humans is low, the parasite can spread quickly where large numbers of cattle and other livestock are kept together.
It was eradicated from the US in the 1970s after causing tens of millions of dollars in losses, and officials fear a resurgence now at a time when food prices across the country, especially for beef, are at record highs.
The flies pose no threat to food safety, but officials fear shortages if they take hold in cattle and poultry populations.
“For months, the screwworm has advanced rapidly through Mexico in spite of the USDA’s existing gameplan,” Sid Miller, the Texas agriculture commissioner, said in a statement.
“Even though billions of sterile flies have been dispersed by USDA, the screwworm has still advanced over 1,100 miles from southern Mexico to Texas, and USDA has missed an important component. Now that it appears the first screwworm has arrived in Texas, the consequences of that decision are now staring us in the face.”
Rollins defended her agency in comments on Wednesday night, and insisted “there is no threat of mass infestation,” according to the Associated Press.
“There is no reason to believe this incursion will result in establishment of the pest in our country,” Rollins said, adding that the Texas case was the only one so far, and the first confirmed detection in the state since 1966.
Q&A
What is the New World screwworm fly and why is it a concern?
The New World screwworm fly is a flesh-eating parasite whose larvae feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals, posing a significant risk to livestock health.
Where was the New World screwworm fly found in Texas?
The parasite was confirmed in a calf in southern Texas, approximately 50 miles from the Mexico border.
What impact could the resurgence of the screwworm fly have on the cattle industry?
The resurgence could lead to significant economic losses for the cattle industry, especially as food prices for beef are already at record highs.
How long has the New World screwworm fly been absent from the US?
The New World screwworm fly has not been seen in the US for over six decades, having been eradicated in the 1970s.
