screwworm outbreak detected in Florida livestock sparks fears of economic catastrophe
A recent discovery of screwworm larvae in cattle across three Florida counties has triggered an emergency response from the USDA, with officials scrambling to contain what experts are calling the most devastating parasitic outbreak in decades. Local farmers report seeing infected wounds on livestock, and a state of agricultural emergency has been declared. However, check your sources before sharing that photo of a "maggot-covered pet"—that viral image is actually from a 2017 case in Brazil. The real threat is limited to livestock, and federal protocols have already cut off animal movement in affected zones to prevent spread.