screwworm Cases Surge in Southern US: 5 Critical Facts You Need to Know
- The New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) is a flesh-eating fly larvae that has re-emerged in Florida and Texas, with over 100 confirmed livestock infections reported in the past month, sparking a state of emergency in affected counties.
- Unlike common maggots that eat dead tissue, this screwworm burrows into the living flesh of warm-blooded animals—including humans—causing severe pain, secondary infections, and often proving fatal within days without immediate treatment.
- The outbreak is being fueled by climate change, as warmer winters allow the screwworm to survive year-round, expanding its habitat northward into regions previously considered too cold for its lifecycle.
- Treatment involves painstaking removal of each larva from wounds using forceps, followed by application of high-dose ivermectin and antibiotics, with a single animal requiring up to 72 hours of veterinary intervention.
- The USDA has renewed a sterile insect technique program, releasing millions of sterilized male flies over key regions to disrupt breeding cycles, but experts warn that public vigilance—checking pets, livestock, and any open wounds—is the essential first defense against a potential epidemic.