The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed additional cases of New World screwworm in Texas and New Mexico on Monday [1].

This emergence of the flesh-eating parasite threatens the health of domestic animals and the stability of the U.S. livestock industry. If left unchecked, the parasite can cause severe tissue damage and death in pets and cattle.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) said the latest confirmations include cases in La Salle County and Andrews County, Texas [2]. Officials also confirmed the first case of the parasite in New Mexico [3].

Reports on the exact number of new cases vary. Some sources said three additional cases were confirmed [4], while others report two [5]. Consequently, the total U.S. case count is reported as either four [6] or five [7].

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins is overseeing the response to contain the spread. The USDA is working to prevent the parasite from establishing a permanent presence in the region, a goal that requires rapid identification and eradication of infected hosts.

New World screwworm larvae enter the body through open wounds and feed on living tissue. Because the parasite can spread quickly across state lines via animal movement or wild bird migration, APHIS is monitoring the affected border regions closely.

Local veterinarians and ranchers have been urged to report any suspicious wounds in livestock or pets. The USDA continues to deploy resources to manage the outbreak and protect the agricultural economy from the potential costs of widespread infection.

“The flesh-eating parasite has spread to New Mexico for the first time”

The expansion of New World screwworm into New Mexico marks a geographic escalation of the outbreak. Because the parasite targets living tissue rather than dead flesh, it poses a high risk of morbidity in livestock. The discrepancy in case counts suggests a fluid situation as APHIS continues to verify samples, but the presence of the parasite in two different states indicates a need for coordinated interstate quarantine and eradication efforts to avoid significant economic losses in the beef and dairy sectors.