USDA reports three new cases of screwworm, bringing total to 15
Source: Reuters
June 21, 2026 8:02 PM EDT Updated 10 hours ago
June 21 (Reuters) - The number of U.S. cases of New World screwworm has risen to 15 after three more animals tested positive in Texas, the Department of Agriculture said in a post on social media on Sunday.
The USDA announcement comes nearly three weeks after the first domestic screwworm infestation in six decades was found in a Texas calf.
New World screwworm is a parasitic fly that eats warm-blooded animals alive and can infect livestock, pets, wildlife and, in rare cases, people. The larvae burrow into the living tissue of animals and cause severe wounds that can eventually kill, leading to signficant economic losses for ranchers.
The USDA said it will continue aggressive eradication efforts in affected areas, including the dispersal of tens of millions of sterile flies that halt screwworm reproduction. One lamb in Crockett County and two calves in Edwards County, Texas tested positive for screwworm in the past 24 hours, according to the USDA's Sunday evening post on X.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/usda-reports-three-new-cases-screwworm-bringing-total-15-2026-06-22/
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