Screwworm Infestation Detected In Florida Livestock, Statewide Emergency Declared
A confirmed outbreak of the screwworm parasite has been identified in a cattle herd in rural Hendry County, Florida, prompting the state’s Department of Agriculture to declare a public health and livestock emergency as of this afternoon.
According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the infestation was discovered during a routine livestock inspection, where veterinary officials found larvae of the parasitic fly, Cochliomyia hominivorax, in open wounds of three cattle. The screwworm, a species of blowfly fly whose larvae feed on living tissue, has been eradicated from the United States for decades, but isolated cases occasionally emerge from imported animals or environmental carriers.
Dr. Lisa Hargrove, state veterinarian, confirmed in a press conference that all positive cases have been quarantined, and a multi-agency response team from the U.S. Department of Agriculture has been deployed to the site. "We are implementing a containment protocol, including wound treatment, insecticide application, and strict movement restrictions on livestock within a 10-mile radius of the affected property," said Dr. Hargrove.
Agricultural officials are urging farmers and ranchers across South Florida to inspect their herds for any signs of maggot-like larvae in wounds, especially in ears and nasal passages, which are common entry points for the screwworm. The parasite poses no direct risk to human health, but can cause severe tissue damage and death in livestock if untreated.
The reason for this specific outbreak remains under investigation, though preliminary analysis suggests a possible link to a recent shipment of salvaged wood from South America. The time of the discovery, early this week, coincides with a period of increased insect activity amid warmer weather. The method of response involves aerial release of sterile male screwworm flies to break the breeding cycle, a strategy successfully used during the 1960s eradication campaign.
Authorities are advising the public to report