Screw Worm has returned

[D_Walt]

The New World screw worm has returned to the US after a 60 year absence. Two cases this week in South Texas, both in calves. Bad news as fawns will hit the ground in the region starting at the end of the month, and an untreated infestation is pretty much 100% fatal for the host animal. Newborns get hit especially hard as the flies lay eggs in the naval which then eat their way through living tissue, if that doesn’t kill them a secondary infection from the wound will.

Hopefully the response with traps and sterile fly techniques can stop them from spreading north. I sat in an online conference with the Texas Ag commission and USDA almost a year ago to the day and they knew it was coming eventually. They have been ramping up sterile fly facilities for over a year, they eradicated the flys from the US in the 60’s, hopefully they can stop them quickly this time. Bad news for wildlife if they don’t.

 

[Gellar]

The New World screw worm has returned to the US after a 60 year absence. Two cases this week in South Texas, both in calves. Bad news as fawns will hit the ground in the region starting at the end of the month, and an untreated infestation is pretty much 100% fatal for the host animal. Newborns get hit especially hard as the flies lay eggs in the naval which then eat their way through living tissue, if that doesn’t kill them a secondary infection from the wound will.

Hopefully the response with traps and sterile fly techniques can stop them from spreading north. I sat in an online conference with the Texas Ag commission and USDA almost a year ago to the day and they knew it was coming eventually. They have been ramping up sterile fly facilities for over a year, they eradicated the flys from the US in the 60’s, hopefully they can stop them quickly this time. Bad news for wildlife if they don’t.

Meateater had a good podcast about the screwworm a few months ago. Episode 835 attack of the screwworm.

 

[D_Walt]

Meateater had a good podcast about the screwworm a few months ago. Episode 835 attack of the screwworm.

I’ll give a listen. I was talking with a few old timers this afternoon that remembered when it was bad down here 65 years ago and telling about doctoring calves when they had infestations. Nasty stuff.

 

[CT_SD]

USDA confirmed 2 more cases today. Another calf and a dog. Lots of good treatments/preventatives available for livestock and pets, unfortunately not so for wildlife other than putting out ivomec impregnated corn.

 

[twraska]

First of all…. I’m not trying to make this thread political as both parties have been in power over the last 60 years and let this happen.

However….. This is an excellent time to write your elected officials and express you disapproval of the response to them. They have been held at bay in Central America for 60 years. We knew in 2023 they crossed back into Mexico and today every official from Ag secretary on down is acting like they just heard about it. We (farmers and ranchers) need emergency approval of each and every control and treatment measures available.

To be fair, they are building a new facility in south Texas to produce sterile flies but it’s a year or more away from completion. The current supply of sterile flies is according to one report, only 20% of what is needed now. It is going to get much worse before it gets better.

 

[nrpate05]

First of all…. I’m not trying to make this thread political as both parties have been in power over the last 60 years and let this happen.

However….. This is an excellent time to write your elected officials and express you disapproval of the response to them. They have been held at bay in Central America for 60 years. We knew in 2023 they crossed back into Mexico and today every official from Ag secretary on down is acting like they just heard about it. We (farmers and ranchers) need emergency approval of each and every control and treatment measures available.

To be fair, they are building a new facility in south Texas to produce sterile flies but it’s a year or more away from completion. The current supply of sterile flies is according to one report, only 20% of what is needed now. It is going to get much worse before it gets better.

The Screwworm prevention program was also cut by DOGE last year.

 

[JV842]

A calf and a dog that they know about now

 

[Gr8bawana]

The Screwworm prevention program was also cut by DOGE last year.

Hmm...what a shock. Something returning to the states after being previously eradicated. Just like measles.
Don't worry we're in good hands these days.

 

[D_Walt]

The USDA completed a distribution facility for sterile flys in South Texas earlier this year, the production facility they are building (also at Moore AFB in Edinburgh, TX) will have the ability to produce 300 million sterile flys/week…in 2027. There will be huge wildlife losses before then, question is how far north will it go before eradication? We’re already “screwed” down here.

 

[twraska]

The USDA completed a distribution facility for sterile flys in South Texas earlier this year, the production facility they are building (also at Moore AFB in Edinburgh, TX) will have the ability to produce 300 million sterile flys/week…in 2027. There will be huge wildlife losses before then, question is how far north will it go before eradication? We’re already “screwed” down here.

Hmmm…. Panama is producing 100 million per week, new facilities 300 million but reports are we need 500 million/week. The math ain’t math in’ up!!!! I’d agree….. we’re screwed!!!!

 

[D_Walt]

Hmmm…. Panama is producing 100 million per week, new facilities 300 million but reports are we need 500 million/week. The math ain’t math in’ up!!!! I’d agree….. we’re screwed!!!!

So there is 100 million/week available out of the Panama facility currently. Those are shipped to a dispersal facility in Edinburgh (Moore AFB) and will be used to spot treat as outbreaks are reported.

A facility in Metapa, Mexico will soon be capable of producing 100 million (perhaps later this summer), then by next year the Texas facilities will be producing an additional 300 million/week. That’s a total of 500 million/week which is the number that was produced and eradicated the flys back in the 60’s when the infestations covered a huge area of South Texas.

We’ll win this fight, but it will likely be a tough couple of years for those with hunting and/or ranching interests in the affected.

I do find it ridiculous the finger pointing and political opportunism that has already started with this situation. Lots of reasons this pest started moving back north through a half a dozen 3rd world countries and there is not simple answers.

I have been following this closely for the last year and while it is unfortunate that it’s here, I also feel very confident (and thankful) that we do have people at the state and national level agencies that are on this and the screwworm’s return will be relatively short lived.