No signs of emerging New World screwworm threat in WA
A parasitic fly that poses a deadly threat to livestock and pets has re-invaded the United States for the first time since 1968.
Washington state agriculture officials say it’s unlikely that the New World screwworm will spread here. It doesn’t thrive in colder climates, and the state recently implemented new inspection requirements to help keep the flies out.
The screwworm feeds on the tissue of warm-blooded animals and “screws” open a wound in flesh to lay its eggs. If left untreated, its larvae can be fatal.
The pest has infected at least 12 animals in Texas and New Mexico, including cattle, goats, a sheep and a dog, in the span of two weeks. On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said it was funding $105 million of projects aimed at controlling and eradicating the screwworm.
https://washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/no-signs-of-emerging-new-world-screwworm-threat-in-wa/