Screwworm Infestation Confirmed in Livestock in Three Southern States, USDA Imposes Emergency Agricultural Quarantine
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — The United States Department of Agriculture has confirmed the presence of the New World screwworm in livestock herds across three southern states, prompting an immediate federal quarantine of affected agricultural zones. According to official statements released Monday morning, the parasitic fly larvae, scientifically known as Cochliomyia hominivorax, were first detected in cattle during routine veterinary inspections in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service reports that the infestation has resulted in significant tissue damage to at least 50 head of cattle, with secondary bacterial infections reported in nine cases. Officials state that the screwworm is a pest that feeds on living flesh, causing severe wounds and, if untreated, can be fatal to livestock. As a containment measure, the USDA has restricted the interstate movement of all susceptible animals, including cattle, sheep, goats, and horses, from the identified premises. Aerial surveillance teams are deploying sterile screwworm flies to disrupt the breeding cycle. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a health advisory for farmworkers in the affected regions, though no human cases have been confirmed. The USDA urges any farmers observing wounds infested with maggots in their animals to immediately report the finding to state veterinary authorities.