A flesh-eating worm has been discovered in the US for the first time in 60 years: it is extremely dangerous to humans and animals.

On June 3, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed that a three-week-old calf in La Pryor, Texas, was found to be infected with the New World screwworm, a fly whose larvae feed on living tissue. This marks the first case of infection in cattle in the U.S. since the parasite was completely eradicated in the country in the 1960s, according to TI have New York Times.

"We've already begun taking steps today to contain and eliminate this outbreak in South Texas," said U.S. Department of Agriculture Commissioner Brooke Rollins.

If this is not an isolated incident, the consequences could be devastating to the American livestock industry: untreated, such infections can lead to the death of animals.

On the subject: Maryland man contracts flesh-eating worm, first U.S. case in decades

The department spent several months preparing for the parasite's possible return. By the mid-2000s, the screwworm had been completely eradicated from North and Central America, but then it began gradually moving north, and in November 2024, it was discovered near the Mexican-Guatemalan border.

The flies themselves don't fly long distances, but the parasite spreads with infected animals, especially during transport. According to the department, more than 20,000 cases have been identified in Mexico, and the import of Mexican livestock into the United States has been banned for over a year.

The screwworm does not infect fruits and vegetables. The department notes that the Food Safety and Inspection Service monitors the safety of beef, poultry, and eggs for consumers.

The Department of Agriculture established a 20-kilometer quarantine zone in the area where the infected calf was found. Surveillance within this zone has been increased, and the movement of all warm-blooded animals outside the zone has been restricted. Veterinarians and animal health specialists have been dispatched to the area. The Texas Animal Health Commission is taking similar measures.

In addition, authorities have begun releasing millions of sterile flies—they are dispersed from the air and delivered by land. The sterile males mate with wild females, and the population gradually dwindles. Currently, this is the only way to stop the spread of the parasite.

Currently, only one facility produces sterile flies—in Panama, where they release approximately 100 million flies per week. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently began construction of a new $750 million facility at Moore Air Force Base in Edinburg, Texas. By the end of 2027, the facility is expected to produce 100 million sterile flies per week, with the potential to increase production to 300 million.

Why is the parasite dangerous?

The New World screwworm, or Cochliomyia hominivorax, is a species of parasitic fly that spends part of its life cycle feeding on the tissue or flesh of warm-blooded animals and humans, the official website explains. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

Flies lay eggs in wounds and natural openings of the body - the nose, eyes, ears, mouth, where the eggs hatch into larvae that feed on living tissue.

The New World screwworm (flesh fly) is typically found in South America and parts of the Caribbean. However, since 2023, it has been gradually migrating northward, through Central America and toward Mexico.

Cases of parasitic infection have been recorded in travelers returning from regions where these flies are found. The risk increases with open wounds and prolonged exposure to the outdoors in endemic areas.

Symptoms include the sensation or visual detection of larvae in a wound or in the area of ​​the ears, nose, eyes, or mouth. Painful wounds or ulcers, a foul odor from the affected area, and bleeding are also characteristic. A bacterial infection, causing fever or chills, often develops.

The risk of infection is higher in people who live in fly-infested areas, spend a lot of time outdoors during the day, especially while sleeping or when protection from insects is unavailable, and have any skin lesions, even minor ones (scratches, insect bites, post-surgical wounds). Additional risk factors include conditions with chronic or bleeding ulcers, such as skin or sinus cancer, and procedures that damage the skin. The risk also increases with close contact with livestock and other warm-blooded animals in infested areas.

Infection begins when the female fly lays eggs in open wounds or on the body of living, warm-blooded organisms. Animals are most often affected, but humans can also become infected. The odor of a wound or natural body opening attracts female flies. Even small skin lesions can become egg deposits. A single female produces 200-300 eggs at a time and up to 3000 over the course of 10-30 days of her life.

The eggs hatch into larvae, which penetrate and feed on the wound tissue. After approximately seven days, they leave the host, fall into the soil, burrow into the ground, and emerge as adult flies.

Prevention involves protecting the skin and avoiding contact with flies in areas where they are present. Open wounds should be covered and kept clean. Sleep in rooms with closed windows or use mosquito nets. If sleeping outdoors, use mosquito nets or tents with insect protection. It is recommended to use repellents and treat clothing with permethrin (0,5%). Clothing should cover as much of the body as possible.

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If larvae are found in a wound, consult a doctor immediately and inform the patient of any travel to Central or South America, the Caribbean, or Mexico. Larvae must be removed by a physician, sometimes surgically. Do not remove them yourself. If larvae fall out, place them in an airtight container with alcohol and take them to a doctor.

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