New World Screwworm Found in Florida: Threat to Pets and Livestock Grows
- The invasive screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite that targets warm-blooded animals, has been detected in Florida for the first time in decades, prompting a state and federal agricultural emergency.
- Unlike common maggots, screwworm larvae burrow into living tissue and feed on the host for days, causing deep, painful wounds that can be fatal if untreated.
- The worm has been found in an outbreak in deer and stray dogs in the Florida Keys, with experts warning it could decimate livestock and endanger pets if it spreads to the mainland.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture is releasing sterile male flies to disrupt the breeding cycle, a technique that successfully eradicated the pest from the country in the 1960s.
- Pet owners are urged to check wounds and report any unusual, smelly infestations to local veterinarians immediately, as early treatment is critical to survival.