Texas finds flesh-eating maggots in cattle; first time in 60 years.

Thairath•International•21d ago

Reader Briefing

Texas confirms the first New World Screwworm infestation in cattle in 60 years, raising concerns for the livestock industry.

•The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed a case of New World Screwworm (a parasitic fly larva) in a calf in La Pryor, Texas.
•This is the first detection of the parasite in Texas since 1966, occurring after an outbreak moved north from Mexico.
•The infestation poses a significant threat to the U.S. livestock industry, which is already experiencing low cattle numbers.
•Texas agriculture officials have criticized the USDA for a delayed response, while the USDA maintains effective measures were taken.

Overview

•The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed a New World Screwworm infection in a calf in La Pryor, Texas.
•This marks the first detection of this livestock maggot in Texas since 1966, a period of 60 years.
•The infestation is linked to an outbreak that has been moving north from Mexico throughout the past year.
•The parasite poses a severe threat to the livestock industry, potentially causing significant economic losses, estimated at $1.8 billion if spread widely across Texas.
•Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller criticized the U.S. Department of Agriculture for implementing preventive measures too late.
•Response measures include suspending animal movement within a 20-kilometer radius of the detection site and releasing additional sterile flies.
•The U.S. has been restricting cattle imports from Mexico for over a year to prevent the spread of this parasite.
•Mexico reported over 27,000 confirmed cases in animals since November 2024, with more than 2,000 ongoing outbreaks.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Read on Thairath (Thai Version)Read on Thairath (English Version)

Source: Thairath (Original)

Key Quotes

Brooke Rollins

"This is the only confirmed case in the country at this time and marks the first time this type of livestock maggot has been found in Texas since 1966, or in 60 years."

นี่เป็นเคสเดียวที่ได้รับการยืนยันในประเทศขณะนี้ และถือเป็นครั้งแรกที่พบหนอนปศุสัตว์ชนิดนี้ในรัฐเท็กซัสนับตั้งแต่ปี 1966 หรือในรอบ 60 ปี

Sid Miller

"Criticized the U.S. Department of Agriculture for implementing preventive measures too late, allowing the parasite to enter the U.S."

วิจารณ์กระทรวงเกษตรสหรัฐฯ ว่า ดำเนินมาตรการป้องกันล่าช้าเกินไป จนทำให้ปรสิตสามารถเข้าสู่สหรัฐฯ ได้

Key Entities

Place

Texas(เท็กซัส)ℹ️

U.S. state where the first New World Screwworm infestation in cattle was detected.

La Pryor(ลาไพรเออร์)

Location in Texas where the infected calf was found.

U.S.-Mexico(สหรัฐ-เม็กซิโก)

Border region between the United States and Mexico, highlighting the trans-border nature of the outbreak.

Mexico(เม็กซิโก)ℹ️

Country from which the New World Screwworm outbreak advanced towards the U.S. border.

Organization

U.S. Department of Agriculture(กระทรวงเกษตรสหรัฐฯ)ℹ️

U.S. government agency that confirmed the New World Screwworm infection and is implementing control measures.

Tyson Foodsℹ️

Major meat processing company whose stock price declined due to concerns about the livestock outbreak.

JBSℹ️

Large meat processing company whose stock price was affected by concerns over the livestock outbreak.

Person

Brooke Rollins(บรูค โรลลินส์)

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture who commented on the confirmed case and its significance.

Sid Miller(ซิด มิลเลอร์)

Texas Agriculture Commissioner who criticized the U.S. Department of Agriculture's response to the outbreak.