The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention activated a Level 3 emergency response on Thursday to combat New World screwworm infestations [1].
This action follows the detection of the parasite in livestock for the first time in decades. Because the screwworm can cause severe tissue damage and death in animals, the outbreak poses a significant threat to the agricultural economy in the U.S. Southwest.
Federal officials are focusing efforts on Texas and New Mexico, where the infestations have been primarily identified [3]. At least six confirmed cases of the New World screwworm have been recorded in the United States [5].
The federal response follows a swift escalation at the state level. Gov. Greg Abbott activated the Texas State Emergency Operations Center on Monday to coordinate the state's combat against the destructive parasite [6].
The CDC's Level 3 response is a formal emergency measure designed to stop the spread of the infestation [1, 2]. The agency is working to contain the outbreak after a rise in livestock cases was reported [2, 5].
New World screwworms are larvae that infest the living flesh of mammals. The parasite creates deep wounds that can lead to secondary infections if not treated immediately. The current surge in cases has prompted the coordinated effort between the CDC and state agencies to prevent a wider regional epidemic.
“The CDC activated a Level 3 emergency response on Thursday to combat New World screwworm infestations.”
The activation of a Level 3 response indicates that federal health officials view the screwworm as a critical threat to livestock health and food security. Because the parasite can spread rapidly through cattle populations, the coordination between the CDC and the Texas State Emergency Operations Center is an attempt to create a biological perimeter to prevent the parasite from migrating into other states.
