New World Screw Worm has resurfaced in the U.S.

After having been declared eradicated in the United States in the late 1960s, the New World screwworm was recently found in a calf in Texas.

Since that calf, three more cattle have been found with it in Texas. And also a domesticated dog in New Mexico.

The screwworms can get into an open sore on any sort of animal, including humans.


They are essentially a maggot laid by a certain type of fly, that prefers to land on open sores, no matter how small the sore might be. The pictures on any website are gross.

I’m sure others who are my age and were raised on ranches and farms, remember this topic being talked about by our families. The screw worms caused a lot of devastation in the livestock and wildlife worlds.

While there have only been five U.S. incidents to-date, it is still something to worry about if you spend any kind of time outside.

This is of such a serious nature, Florida’s governor is taking preventative measures even though none have been found in Florida.

I have been reading about it, and they are saying that Ivermectin will kill the parasites, and they do not expect it to become that large of a problem as was originally suggested. I guess we just have to wait and see what happens.

Yvonne Smith said:

I have been reading about it, and they are saying that Ivermectin will kill the parasites, and they do not expect it to become that large of a problem as was originally suggested. I guess we just have to wait and see what happens.

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I hope they are right.

I am surrounded by beef cattle. I check the horses for bites & cuts every day, but not that close. I only deworm twice yearly, mostly due to possible parasite immunity to the meds. I also live fairly remote and the two horses are on 19 acres.

They also choose to stay in the barn in front of the barrel fans during these hot/humid days. The blow flies that lay these maggots don’t make it a habit to come out after dark. This further reduces the horses chances of getting bit. I would rather pay the electric bill than a vet bill.

It’s always something

Screwworm is the reason beef prices have gone so high as well as feed prices. Imports have been restricted, especially from Mexico. Beef herds are the lowest they have been since the 1950s from what I have read.