Flesh-eating screwworm returns to U.S. after 60 years, threatening cattle herd

[LetMyPeopleVote]

Source: NBC

A flesh-eating parasite that had been kept out of U.S. livestock for decades has been detected in Texas, threatening the nation’s cattle industry and food supply at a time when prices are already high.

The case of New World screwworm was confirmed in a 3-week-old calf in La Pryor, near the U.S.-Mexico border, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said late Wednesday.

The parasitic fly’s larvae feed exclusively on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals.

While the fly is capable of infecting humans and pets, such cases are rare and pose little risk to the broader public, according to experts....

The primary weapon against screwworm is a decades-old technique that has eliminated the parasite from the U.S. in the past — releasing sterilized male flies into affected areas. Since female flies generally mate only once, those that pair with sterile males are unable to produce offspring.

In a bid to contain the spread of the parasite, USDA said it has begun releasing sterile flies in the area and is investing heavily in new sterile flies production facilities in Texas.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/new-world-screwworm-case-detected-texas-calf-cattle-food-supply-usda-rcna348414

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Flesh-eating screwworm returns to U.S. after 60 years, threatening cattle herd

The case of New World screwworm was confirmed in a 3-week-old calf in La Pryor, Texas, near the U.S.-Mexico border, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said late Wednesday.

www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...

— Lauren Ashley Davis (@laurenmeidasa.bsky.social) 2026-06-04T11:27:13.516Z

[Ponietz]

1. Suck on it Republiklan you voted for this

[Karasu]

22. Yep. Like, what do these idiots love more? Meat, or deregulation? Pick one, you fuckheads.

Because you can't have both.

And I'm saying this as an omnivore--because it's a not a matter of opinion.

Conservatives refuse to fucking choose, and this is the result.

[hamsterjill]

29. If ONLY it could stop there. But if affects the rest of us.

I am in South Texas and run an animal sanctuary. This can affect any warm-blooded animal, including wildlife and pets. I'm already seeing local veterinarians sending videos around about what to look for in your dogs and cats.

Scares the absolute hell out of me. I hope every goddamn Republican that continues to support Trump gets hit square in the face with this. I am not normally a hateful and vengeful person, but this is going to affect me (personally) and I am mad as hell. I have already been out this morning IN THE FUCKING RAIN trying to mitigate whatever I can see/do to prevent this from affecting my animals. It's an impossible situation directly brought on my Trump and Musk, and I am going to go to my grave screaming that at the top of my lungs every chance that I get.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

2. Texas Agricultural Commissioner urges trump to "immediately deploy the Screwworm Adult Suppression System"

The agricultural community in Texas is very upset and worried

Link to tweet

[Kali]

8. not just in texas

this is one of those problems like polio, that if you don't remember you are going to be shocked at the consequences of tight budgets and fucking ignorance!

[hamsterjill]

15. I think ole Sid is having a panic attack - and rightly so.

As with all Republicans, the things he cares about are only those things that directly impact him. THIS will impact him and he will be held accountable by the Cattlemen's Association groups. He knows he will be the scapegoat.

While I'm not anxious to have screwworm return, I will enjoy watching Sid Miller squirm a little.

[FarPoint]

3. Time to stock up on fish then...

One can also cozy up with the local butcher shop that you trust to be sure where the beef comes from.....

[Kali]

9. it isn't a problem with your retail meat

it is a horrible parasite that eats LIVING flesh. the animals that get infested die a slow painful death. and it isn't just cattle.

[FarPoint]

13. Thank you for the clarification....

I always tend to think the worst these days...

[Kali]

16. that is usually a safe bet with the fucks in charge right now

[SpankMe]

4. For a sec, I thought "flesh-eating screwworm" meant "Trump". n/t

[liberalgunwilltravel]

21. Same here!

He’s certainly a worm and he’s screwed all of us.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

5. Protecting against Screw Worms is one of the projects tump cut

Link to tweet

[Old Crank]

6. Why is Texas begging for help from the Feds?

Abbott the commie wanting big government.
Why hasn't his regime set up a plan for this known hazard?

[Kali]

7. oh fuck

this is really frightening, even if these incompetent, anti-science morons weren't in charge. and for the posters making fun of texas or dumbfuck ranchers...this maggot is devastating to wildlife too.

[jeffreyi]

10. This is a really big deal.

Everybody knew it was happening for the last couple of years and didn't take enough action for some reason.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

18. Trump and DOGE slashed funding for screwworm monitoring programs.

Link to tweet

[LeftInTX]

11. Ranchers near the border were seeing and reporting screw worms for several months.

However, they even posted pics of the fly, but since it hadn't affected cattle, it fell on deaf ears.

[3Hotdogs]

12. Screwworm? Are they referring to RFK, Jr.? Did he leave the country

and then return?

[LetMyPeopleVote]

19. RFK, Jr. says not to worry about screwworms:

Link to tweet

[3Hotdogs]

20. Fuck yeah. Ya fries 'em up in garlic infused olive oil, add a touch, JUST A TOUCH, of Tobasco and you got

yourself a home run,

Great for watching the Knicks kick the shit out'a .... (who are they playing?).

[LetMyPeopleVote]

14. Official Statement from @JamesTalarico on Protecting Texas Cattle Industry from New World Screwworm

[LetMyPeopleVote]

17. Trump's Agriculture Secretary tries to blame the resurgence of the New World Screwworm on Biden

Link to tweet

[purr-rat beauty]

23. RFK can prove us wrong

And go play with the cows

[Blumancru]

24. Given past history

It would not surprise me if Petulant Rump invested some of his ill gotten lucre in beef futures or something ahead of time.
Anyway, if it only eats Texans and cows it won’t affect me, I guess.
This is something that Ivermectin actually is good for, which means they probably won’t use it.
I have plenty of popcorn to make while I watch to see how this unfolds.

[Raftergirl]

25. This is what they voted for. FAFO.

[no_hypocrisy]

26. Paging Orrex!!!

[Traildogbob]

27. The Dutton

Series last week had the story line of the rangers having to kill an entire Hurd because of foot and mouth disease. The vet referenced anti vaxxing from the other MAGA rangers, not the Dutton’s, that will not vaccinate their livestock.

[Aristus]

28. Let me guess: the brain-dead beef-heads who own these cattle farms will all say, in unison:

"It's because of Joe Biden. I support Trump because he's doing good things for the country!"

Bet you anything you like...

[LetMyPeopleVote]

30. trump has everything under control

[Maxheader]

31. Oh gee..!

We have all the great minds at the white house to handle this. sarcasm...

[LetMyPeopleVote]

32. The idiocy of the DOGE bros (who probably thought "screwworm" was a hilarious joke) will haunt us for years to come.

Link to tweet

[Igel]

33. The problem's bigger than that.

It was eradicated down to the Darien Gap, pretty much.

It started heading north because of a lot of immigrants cutting through that gap. Bringing infected animals. Or they were infected themselves. That was in '22 and '23. It spread north from the Gap-proximal countries in '24, getting to Guatemala.

No question it would get here in '25 or '26. We "monitored." Rather like "monitoring" a train that's barreling down on your car parked on the tracks. Reducing 'monitoring' is not a big problem--granted, you may know less, but 'monitoring' is not 'resisting.'

The 'gold standard' that got rid of the pest on numerous Caribbean islands as well as central American was to the release of truly massive amounts of sterilized adult flies. We're talking hundreds of millions a week. Right now our capacity is a few million a week--hardly enough to make a noticeable difference in a large area. Perhaps it'll matter in the area where the one instance was identified. But it's widespread in northern Mexico at this time and those immigrants don't recognize borders.

They're building a 'production' center now to be able to release the required number of flies. Might come on line this summer, but it was planned for next year. It's been suddenly fast tracked. It should have been up and running and sending sterile flies down south when? How about '22 and '23--when the 'frontline' wasn't nearly as wide and control would have been a lot, lot easier. But, no.

In '25 the pest managed to spread from down near Guatemala up fairly north in Mexico--again, not naturally, unless you count the transportation of infected animals (pets or livestock) as 'natural'. Mexico could have been taking steps, but, you know, it monitored.