The number of botfly or New World screwworm cases in the US rose to 15 after more tThree animals tested positive in Texasthe Department of Agriculture said in a social media post this Sunday.
The USDA’s announcement comes nearly three weeks after the first domestic New World screwworm infestation in six decades was found in a calf in Texas.
The New World screwworm is one that feeds on live warm-blooded animals and can infect livestock, pets, wildlife and, in rare cases, people. The larvae penetrate the living tissue of animals and cause serious wounds that can eventually kill, leading to significant economic losses for livestock farmers.
The United States Department of Agriculture said it will continue its aggressive eradication efforts in affected areas, including the dispersal of tens of millions of sterile flies that prevent botfly reproduction.
A lamb in Crockett County and two calves in Edwards County, Texas, tested positive for the botfly in the past 24 hours, according to the USDA’s Sunday evening post in the X.
People have been preparing for the arrival of the New World screwworm in the US for a year, as it arrives from Mexico. Experts have predicted that a widespread outbreak could cost the state $1.8 billion in economic losses and devastate wildlife.
The USDA in April began construction of a facility to produce sterile flies, which experts describe as the best tool to combat the pest, but it will not come into operation until late 2027.
