This screwworm shit is not funny! Another rant from an angry Texan!!!!

[hamsterjill]

Did I mention how much I hate Donald Trump and all of the chaos that he has caused?

Screwworm was declared eradicated in 1966. That's SIXTY YEARS ago. And now because of DOGE cuts to funding for monitoring, etc., it is back. It is Trump's fault and there is no denying this. The Republicans can spin it any way they want, but the facts are that it was DOGE funding cuts that slashed monitoring and caused this.

This does not simply affect cattle. So it won't JUST be the rich ranchers who may be affected. You know, the ones who most likely voted for Trump! This stuff can affect any warm blooded animal, including wildlife and pets.

I'm in South Texas and run an animal sanctuary. The potential exists for this stuff to harm my charges, and I am very concerned and SO VERY GODDAMN ANGRY! Local vets are already running videos for pet owners - NOT FARM ANIMALS, BUT PETS - telling people what to watch for and what to do. It's nerve wracking and it is utterly, utterly ridiculous that we are at this point. I do not relish the idea of watching one of my charges getting this. I'm already being watchful and careful, and of course, I'll get it treated if it were to happen, but it would be very expensive. But I also don't relish watching the deer that eat in my back yard being devoured by some flesh-eating larvae one by one.

Are we ever going to be able to feel safe again? Or we ever going to return to a time when some sanity prevails? What in the actual fuck is it ever going to take? Will there ever be a time again when we can just get in our beds, fall asleep and wake up the next morning WITHOUT some off-the-wall, almost unbelievable headline about something ELSE that may kill us all?

Screwworm today. Another COVID epidemic tomorrow? And then what? What's next? Lurking behind more of the stupid funding cuts made so that some asshole billionaires could make another million.

Stupid people need to get out of the way before they kill all of us. Anyone who voted for Trump EITHER time is just goddamn stupid. The press needs to stop being politically correct and safe and they need to start challenging every Trump official on accuracy and bullshit, and our Democratic representatives need to continue to find ways to do more.

[hlthe2b]

1. No. It is not. It can affect pets, other livestock and HUMANS TOO. We had it controlled 60 years ago

but now that surveillance and research programs have been decimated, well. It could readily decimate livestock producers in this country if it takes a solid hold.

If you live along the border, read up on it and treat any pets that go outdoors. For dogs, the one preventive approved for control of the vector fly that transmits the parasite is Elanco's Credelio Quattro--though others will be testing their own products as well and submitting for approval.

To learn a bit about human risk:
https://www.cdc.gov/new-world-screwworm/hcp/clinical-overview/index.html

[hamsterjill]

3. Do you know how expensive Credelio is?

It's about 25 dollars per pill for one month. Do you know how many animals I have in my sanctuary?

I have read up on it, and that's WHY I'm posting about how angry I am.

[hlthe2b]

6. Yes. I get it, though Elanco does work with groups such as yours (and offers rebates for general public)

SO, you might check with the local/regional representative via your veterinarian to see if they could put your group in touch with the people who could help.

That said, this is why I mentioned the other companies trying to get their products approved, which can help drive prices down. Dogs may still be protected by some of the less expensive spot-on products--some which have been shown to have repellent effects against biting flies. Check with your veterinarian. That could be a doable solution or at least help.

[hamsterjill]

9. Do you not think that I've already thought to do that?

I realize you're trying to be helpful, but anyone in rescue is already way ahead of you.

It isn't always a "doable situation". Or maybe you could be even more helpful and tell me how in the hell I would go about administering a Credelio pill to a very feral older cat who won't go into a trap because he's been trapped before, is in a large confined area with other cats and they might eat the pill numerous times were I to keep trying to get HIM to chew it up, and the fact that he won't eat anything suspicious.

Please allow me my rant and stop offering very obvious advice.

[hlthe2b]

10. i only wanted to help. I don't deserve your anger & wrath nor does anyone else who responds.

But your animals deserve help--both your admirable efforts, but also those of anyone else who would wish to assist. So kindly don't discount all who want to do so out of hand.

[erronis]

21. Thank you for trying to help and responding in a rational manner.

[hlthe2b]

11. I mentioned spot-on treatments which may well work and could be administered to a trapped

cat. Discuss it with your veterinarian who, I'm sure would help if you don't scream at them as well.

[efhmc]

29. I so wanted to address this because of my family's business but figured I'd just get the usual "jump in the lake Texan"

response on DU that is so often the response. So thank you for informing people.

[hamsterjill]

42. Wouldn't want to disappoint you.

Have a great day!

[Disaffected]

2. And the biggest screwworms of all are

Trump and Musk.

BTW, Screwworm ain't a bad moniker for either of them.

[Moostache]

4. It is not funny and its tragic that innocents are paying the price...

But this is EXACTLY what they meant screaming about "taking my country back"...

Back to viral outbreaks.
Back to Screwworm.
Bringing back Ebola concerns...
Bringing back Polio...

Coming soon to a care center near you another Hantavirus outbreak!
And in future attractions...be ready for the return of the king - Small Pox 2027!!!

We are a country of largely sedated imbeciles, led by a demented and deranged narcissist and being lied to by his sycophantic ideologues and morons. There is no way this ends in anything other than utter ruin and privation, none of which was necessary...but MAGA wanted to be 'allowed' to say the words they hold in their blackened little hearts now dontcha know?

THEY FUCKED AROUND...and WE'RE ALL GETTING THE FIND OUT PORTION OF THE PROCEEDINS.

[hamsterjill]

5. Thank you for understanding.

n/t

[AZLD4Candidate]

20. Measles, Whooping Cough, etc. Under him, I think the near extinct Guinea Worm and extinct smallpox

will make a comeback.

Anti-Midas. Whatever he touches turns to shit.

[nitpicked]

39. I think it would take a facility incident to let smallpox loose again.

But we're just about to the mid 80s with measles, about ready to check titre levels before traveling even within the US ((like I checked before one trip to an outbreak country).

[AZLD4Candidate]

47. Both my parents believe the "assassination attempts" were all false flags.

They got some MAGAt to do it, but didn't tell him he would be at risk and didn't tell local police also.

Three and each time were done when he was flagging in polling.

They also believe Charlie Kirk was a hit job as no one seems to investigate his wife at all.

But again, I just drink the Kool-Aid because I wouldn't put anything off the table with this group of bottom feeders.

[Johonny]

7. Trump made screwworms great again

What, no thank you?

[dedl67]

8. Control of screwworm was one of the great scientific successes.

Millions of sterile males are dropped in to the area infected by the population of screwworms. The result is a huge reduction in reproduction. The Trump administration hates science, so of course the return of the screwworm is predictable.

[MustLoveBeagles]

12. No it's not

Both animals and humans suffer needlessly.

[gay texan]

13. Is this similar to the bot fly larve? N/t

[Kali]

16. not really

both are maggots, that is about it. feeding behavior and lifecycle quite different. screw worms eat living flesh. other fly maggots can infest wounds but they eat dead material. screw worms just keep going and easily re-infest the ever enlarging wound. bot fly larvae have a more complex lifecycle.

[popsdenver]

33. Interesting..........

The warming climate is allowing more and more insects, rodents, and small critters to migrate north. A decade ago, our vet was flabbergasted that our dog here in Denver had the first BOT fly he had ever seen.......Same with West Nile Virus here in the front range of the rockies, increasing every year. (Warnings already this year by the State Health Department)
Same with the disastrous/deadly Tick viruses spreading west from New England.......

Our poultry farms here in Colorado have been destroying zillions of Turkeys and Chickens for AVIAN flu since it was realized it could spread to humans years ago
........
Skunk populations have increased across the Front Range Metro Areas of Colorado.....they are being forced from the drought stricken prairies East of Denver, into front range cities. Skunks are THE most rabid animals in Colorado, and have invaded the cities along our northern from Range.....Colorado Springs to Cheyenne.......
It is just a matter of time before the next Covid......Or maybe even a worse Virus. AND thanks to Trump and the Republicans, we will be far LESS prepared for the next one.......and know this: The next time around, Health Workers, Doctors, Nurses, etc will just walk away, when it is first recognized, and stay at home......They ALL learned their lesson during the Covid Pandemic...........Same with the entire staff's of the CDC, WHO, etc etc.....

[hamsterjill]

17. I honestly don't know the answer to that question.

I just know that the response has been massive and swift from the veterinary community, and that in and of itself, has me worried.

[cab67]

31. there do seem to be efforts afoot to release sterile males in large numbers.

This was how the problem was solved the first time. Hopefully, it'll work again.

But this shouldn't be necessary, and it doesn't solve the problem immediately.

[hamsterjill]

43. Yeah, I was just reading that these efforts wouldn't be fully (note that word) operational until early 2028.

I think they have released some of the sterile males already near the site where the calf was infected. But with all of the recent storm activity, these flies are probably already everywhere.

[cab67]

30. botflies eat living tissue, but transmission is completely different.

Botflies don't lay their eggs on the host. They tackle mosquitoes, attach their eggs to them, and then the mosquito lands on the host and the eggs fall off.

Screwworms look for an entry - a wound would be a good example. Botfly larvae drill right in.

I don't think the two types of fly are all that closely related.

[Kali]

54. there are different species of botflies and modes of infestation

some lay eggs near the entrances to rodent burrows (how pets sometimes pick them up), other do lay on the host. the ones I am most familiar with (that cause "warbles" in cattle), lay eggs on hair of lower legs, the larvae burrow into skin and follow a (usually) specific path through the body and end up under the skin of the back. they make an air hole and eventually pop out and pupate in the soil. if you use insecticide on them at the wrong time they can cause more damage dying in the wrong place than just letting them cycle out.

[Traildogbob]

14. Damn horrible.

Outrage is gonna spread as well. Paxton sure as hell will not be of any fucking help.
And as climate shifts many many vectors will bring up lots of disease’s mostly found in the tropical ecosystems.
If we could out the criminals right now, we may never repair all the shit, and if it continues for the remainder of this term, we can be assured we will not survive the hell on earth coming.
$70 million of our taxes awarded to Clean Coal CEO’s yesterday, is not gonna protect us.
Foot and Mouth disease, lurking.
hamsterjill, I share your anger at it all. Everyday another hell event. Damn hard to think of enjoying any 250 celebration where we are now.
A funeral will be more appropriate.

[dave99]

15. Blame the fucking Republicans Texas keeps voting in to mess your way of life.

[BaronChocula]

18. We should call it the republican screwworm

or the gop screwworm just to clarify whose fault this is.

[ChicagoTeamster]

19. Sociopaths like Trump, Thiel, Musk, the DOGE shitheads etc don't care about anything that doesn't affect them personally

That's why you never elect @$$h013$ born into wealth who grow into billionaires on funding other peoples ideas and achievements to any public office. Not even dog catcher.

[littlemissmartypants]

28. Psychopaths exists in various degrees in a variety of professions.

Sociopaths are made by society. Psychopaths are born. They are genetically wired for their deviance.

The Trumps and the Kushners are Psychopaths. Money is an adjacent issue, but not all wealthy people are socially deviant.

Learn how to really read them, please. But don't blame it on their bank accounts.

Psychopathy is a very common
mental disorder. It is twice as
common as schizophrenia,
anorexia, and bipolar disorder.
It is equally common as bulimia,
panic disorder, and autism.
The only mental disorders
significantly more common than
psychopathy are substance abuse
or dependence, depression, and
post-traumatic stress disorder.

Psychopathy affects all
ethnic, cultural, racial,
and socioeconomic groups.

...psychopathy
is a spectrum disorder,

Prevalence in the United States
Approximately 70% of the
population is estimated to
have no psychopathic traits
whatsoever.

Key Point
👇👇👇👇👇👇
The remaining
30% have low, medium, or
high levels of psychopathy.

Source:
https://psychopathyis.org/stats/

Characteristics of Psychopaths

1. Aggressive, callous, and cunning
2. Complete absence of conscience and empathy
3. Very adept at manipulating others
4. Willingness to engage in immoral, criminal conduct
5. Willingness to take what they want and do as they please, regardless of who is hurt or wronged
6. Deceptive ability to appear outwardly benevolent
7. Deceptive ability to behave in superficially charming ways to hide purely selfish motives
8. Willingness to use intimidation and violence to control others in order to satisfy their own needs
9. Willingness to intentionally violate the basic inherent human rights of others
10. Complete absence of any sense of guilt or remorse for the harm their actions have caused to others
11. Rationalization of their own immoral behavior
12. Will attempt to lay blame upon someone else for their own conduct
13. Denial, will deny their own wrongdoing outright
14. Utter contemptuousness toward the feelings and desires of their fellow beings
15. Pathological lying, will say anything without any concern for truth to advance their own hidden agendas
16. Ablity to feign [fake] normal human emotions and empathy
17. Distorted sense of the consequences of their actions
18. Total failure to accept any responsibility for their own socially irresponsible ways
19. Strong bellef that they will never be brought to justice for their criminal behavior

Learn how to spot one. If for no other reason than to save humanity and you might save democracy along the way.

❤️

[harumph]

32. I was told by an older gentleman that a man born rich could never understand what it's like to be poor.

Putting aside how we define "rich," I'll go further and say considering the amount of disparity we have in the US currently, a man born rich can't even understand the middle class. They can't serve the public because they're incapable of understanding the public or appreciating their needs. Their means of travel, the locations they go to, their procuring of food, investments, sex, etc., fall outside the practices of the majority of citizens. Moreover, they're lacking the required curiosity to learn and remedy themselves. Ignorant of the world and just fine with it. They will likely die as clueless as when they were born - and will pointlessly try to barter for more time instead of looking around the hospital room and noticing their heirs' greedy eyes.

[ChicagoTeamster]

36. Occasionally someone like a JFK or an FDR breaks that rule but, in general, yes

[popsdenver]

34. Too late CT........NC

[LuvLoogie]

22. I blame MAGA.

They voted to empower this racist criminal regime - six times. While nobody could have listed every fuckery going to be perpetrated by these shit souls, we knew that destruction, sabotage, and the breaking of everything in site was the plan. Project 2025 put it into prose, but it was all just scorched earth destruction of social infrastructure and raiding of natural resources. They knew, and they know, but they'll still blame Mexicans.

For decades this has been the motive of the GOPs, and they brought on their supporters by fueling, promoting, and championing their bigoted grievances. Texas ranchers are fucked in a large part due to their own social exploitation and contempt for anything regulating their "freedoms."

It's a blanket statement, but the planet don't care. It will deal with us on a geological time scale as it would with any failure of evolution. Our species is dominated by dead-enders.

[dave99]

24. known as REPUBLICANS

[cab67]

23. "any warm-blooded animal"

includes humans. Yup - screwworms can attack us, too. Seen it happen.

In fact, the species part of its scientific name - Cochliomyia hominivorax - basically means "devours people."

[littlemissmartypants]

25. Righteous rant, hamsterjill. I felt every inhalation and exhalation of it.

The night that he was declared president the first time, I cried so hard. Not just because Hillary lost. That was bad, yes. But because I knew that we were going to have a psychopath in charge with all his enablers and supporters and we were in for a world of hurt. Not a day goes by that I don't think about my deep despair that night. I'm afraid it's going to just get worse.

Stay strong. We love you. ❤️

[hamsterjill]

45. Thanks, smarty.

I had the same sick feelings. And I agree that I believe it will get worse.

I was just watching a video - nothing confirmed - but one person was talking about how the flies are transported by storms and we've had massive amount of thunderstorms over the last couple of months in South Texas. This person was in Mexico talking about how they are handling the infestations there, and he indicated that the majority of the cases they are seeing are actually in companion animals for some reason.

Now, for everyone reading this who insists on people being informed - again, nothing confirmed. This was one person's observation. It was someone who indicated that he was familiar with screwworm and he found it odd that this was affecting companion animals as much as it was.

[littlemissmartypants]

56. Climate change has everything...

Up in the air. Literally and figuratively.

Fires are accelerating CO2 release is just one example that I read about today. We do not think about the effects of just the daily breeze. But it's there.

Thanks for the discussion and thanks for your reply. ❤️

[ZDU]

26. Burn It Down

They want to... and they are...
Burning it. Burning it down. Destroying the social, cultural, and economic structures of the American identity...

Denial is powerful. It takes courage to take off the blinders and to admit the codependency of our family, friends, and neighbors.

It is deeply unsettling

[pat_k]

27. An early consequence of criminal impoundments and maga murder budget cuts.

We will see many many many more and varied problems in years hence. On many fronts, even if programs are restored, periods without preventative measures often snowball into incredibly costly and destructive problems.

It brings to mind the case of Reagan and rat infestations. As governor, Reagan cut rodent control programs. As president, he cut federal funds for rodent control programs.

Not surprisingly, in the years after he left the governor's office infestations of rats rapidly grew where I lived in Los Angeles. But it was not until giant norway rats started regularly appearing in toilets and pools in Beverly Hills (and the Uber rich got up in arms about it) that reporting (some) made the connection with the stupidity of the cuts in the 70's under Reagan and 80's (as I recall, Deukmejian made additional cuts in rodent control in response to federal cuts).

Needless to say, the costs of trying to get populations back under control was something like 100x what the original cuts "saved."

And the costs are still mounting. I moved a long time ago, but I don't think they've been able to bring populations under control for people who live in less affluent areas than Beverly Hills.

[popsdenver]

38. LOL

10-20 years ago we were faced with un-fathomable amounts of Norwegian Rats at our Denver Address near the Highland Canal in SE Denver.....We set RAT traps everywhere. One night we got 29 Rats. It took a year or two, with us and many of our neighbors setting traps, even in the winter, to knock the populations down.......with the Fox and Coyote population helping us as best they could.....
A single mating pair of Rats can create around 900 off spring in ONE YEAR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now we are invaded with Rabbits........ Fox and Raptors help cut down on the numbers, but still a problem......
(interesting that coyotes can't catch Rats and Rabbits...they are not fast enough, but fox and raptors can....)

[The Roux Comes First]

35. As a Republic (If We Can Keep It), "We" Obviously Failed Even More Bigly Than He Did When He Showed

Us just what a "leader" and deal-maker he was when Covid came upon us. At least this pathetic piece of ecto-puss is showing the 40% of voters who actually pay attention just how dangerous it is to run your entire life on a program of selfishness.

If only we survive.

[Ilsa]

40. Righteous rant.

A letter to the editor about funding cuts affecting monitoring might help educate the public about how their tax dollars are used. If trump hadn't thrown out the Obama handbook on pandemics, maybe there would have been fewer deaths from covid-19.

I'm so sorry your shelter, pets, farm animals, etc are affected.

And for the record, farmers and ranchers should never be presumed to be "rich."

[hamsterjill]

44. No, not all farmers and ranchers are "rich".

Thanks for your kind words.

But you can be damn sure that the farmers and ranchers who are rich are most likely Trump voters. That was my point...

[Ilsa]

46. Yep. The ranchers & farmers look for those great gop bennies. nt

[hamsterjill]

51. Yep, and it'll be the mom and pop farms and ranches that suffer the most.

The rich dudes will have the money to get the treatments, etc. while the poor ones will be struggling to afford vet care. We don't have that many "real" cowboys left any more in my area. If it comes to trying to treat cattle that are infected, it's going to take some $$$ to hire someone who can ride a horse and rope a steer, tie it down and administer treatment. Or round them all up and into a chute even. Most of the big operations are more like feedlots, while the smaller operations are pastured. It's not like you just yell "hey, come here bull" and he walks over and lays down!!! LOL

The rich will be able to afford to pay people for labor and meds. The little guys - let's just say for shits and giggles - less than 50 head, won't be able to cough up the dough.

[Ilsa]

49. I forgot to add:

I've been watching Dutton Ranch on Paramount. The story line has an angus bull (from Mexico) infecting the ranch's herd with hoof and mouth disease and the consequences of that. Careless testing and fraud were the cause.

[walkingman]

55. Then why would most vote for the GOP? Could it be FSA welfare?

Independent audits of the system point out that while the programs are pitched as a way to save the "family farm," the majority of these federal dollars actually go to the largest, most financially secure agribusinesses. This creates an uneven playing field, forcing taxpayers to continuously support highly profitable mega-farms regardless of market conditions.

[MW67]

41. We have to get

The screworms out D.C first

[littlemissmartypants]

63. HEAR! HEAR! ✊️

[TBF]

48. Thank you for posting -

not that it was ok when I just was aware of cattle, but I am grateful to have this knowledge. I took my dog in for an ear infection a couple weeks ago, and he seems better but I'll be taking him soon for a re-check anyway and will ask them about this worm thing.

He's an indoor pet, but he's also a gsp who plays outdoors and we go on long walks (the areas are all in our neighborhood - but along retention ponds and the like). We've already had to deal with west nile in our park this year, and I do have him on monthly Trifexis (it doesn't upset him thankfully).

Thank you again for informing us.

[hamsterjill]

53. I'm sure your dog will be just fine, but you're right to ask at the re-check. You're being sane and responsible.

I don't know where you're located, but I posted about watching a video of someone in Mexico who was explaining that the flies are literally being transported by storms (of which we've been having many in South Texas), and that in Mexico, he was seeing more cases in companion animals than in livestock. I don't believe this person was an authority, but rather someone entrenched.

He was dumbfounded as to why companion animals were being affected as much.

[TBF]

59. I'm south of Houston in the outer suburbs -

that's close enough to Mexico to be concerned. We've been having rain every day lately.

[hamsterjill]

62. Yes, I don't blame you for being concerned.

Sending you my best wishes and please let us know once you’ve been back to your vet. It’s treatable in dogs even if it were to be screwworm. I say that not to minimize the situation, but to offer hope.

My bet is that your dog will be just fine and I will say a prayer (as is my practice) to that end.

[ananda]

50. That was a righteous rant!

And I'll bet most ranchers voted for Trump.

Poor babies.

[hamsterjill]

52. Rants have become my norm these days.

In all frankness, I get so sick of the choices that stupid people have made that have now impacted my life, my livelihood and my dreams. Obviously, I live smack dab in the middle of MAGA, so I see a lot of that.

So, thanks for letting me vent. And yes, most of the ranchers here - at least the wealthy ones - were big contributors to Trump.

[ananda]

58. I don't really feel sorry for them, but..

the poor livestock. That sucks.

[hamsterjill]

60. For me it's the wildlife.

The ranchers are going to try to salvage the beef so they will pursue treatment. As will people like me who are responsible for companion animals.

But the wildlife will be left to die.

[ananda]

61. That is such a shame.

Every red state is a shame on earth.

[DBoon]

57. Can the secured island compounds of billionaires keep the screwworm fly out?

Or will they end up like Mask of the Red Death?

[Karasu]

64. Yet another inevitable consequence of all this insane deregulation. Completely on the heads of the GQP.