Two more New World screwworm infections have been confirmed in Texas, with cases found in animals more than 150 miles apart. The USDA said the new cases were found in a calf in La Salle County and a goat in Gillespie County, showing how difficult it may be to stop the spread of the flesh-eating parasite. A fifth case that was first reported in Texas was later reclassified as the first known New Mexico case after officials traced it to a dog in Lea County. New World screwworm larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, and the pest can infect livestock, pets, wildlife, and, in rare cases, people.
Why This Matters:
Finding infections in animals more than 150 miles apart raises a bigger question: how far has this parasite already moved? When cases are spread across different counties and even traced into a neighboring state, containment becomes much more complicated. For households, this is a warning sign that food supply threats can grow quietly before the full impact is clear. The time to build a reliable backup food supply is before pests, disease, or livestock disruptions start showing up in prices and availability.
Read the full article here.
Source: ABC News
By: The Associated Press
