Return of Flesh-Consuming Screwworm Parasite in the United States

The New World screwworm, a parasitic fly known for its flesh-eating characteristics and largely eliminated from the U.S. over the past decades, has resurfaced and is advancing northward. This resurgence poses a risk to livestock, wildlife, pets, and even humans. The larvae of this parasite invade the living tissues of warm-blooded creatures via open wounds, consuming flesh and leading to serious, often lethal infestations if not addressed. Agricultural authorities are vigilantly tracking the pest's movement north, cautioning that its comeback could jeopardize the U.S. cattle sector and wildlife populations that had previously benefited from a once highly effective eradication initiative in American agricultural history.