The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed the first case of the New World screwworm in New Mexico, bringing the total number of known US cases to five.
Officials revealed the parasite was found in a dog residing in Lea County, near the state’s border with Texas, where four cases have already been recorded over the past week.
The New World screwworm is regarded as one of the most dreaded parasites on the planet. Female flies deposit hundreds of eggs in open wounds on animals – and in rare cases humans – with the larvae hatching within hours and proceeding to feed on living flesh.
Without treatment, infestations can carve deep, excruciating wounds, spark severe infections and ultimately prove deadly.
Confirming the latest find, the USDA stated: “This situation is evolving, and we expect new information to emerge as our investigation continues.”
It further added: “We are working closely with our partners in New Mexico, Texas and across the region to ensure we identify, contain and respond to any potential cases as swiftly as possible.”
The first US case was detected last week in a three-week-old calf in Texas, with another young calf discovered infected just miles away only a day later.
Since then, three Texas counties – Kinney, Jim Hogg and Uvalde – have declared local states of disaster in response to the threat, while comparable emergency declarations remain pending in Webb, La Salle and Val Verde counties. Local officials have called on President Donald Trump to declare a national emergency, insisting that frontline communities desperately require additional funding, personnel and resources to prevent the parasite from gaining a foothold in the US.
The outbreak comes after cases were identified in southern Mexico last year, with infestations confirmed across the states of Chiapas, Oaxaca and Veracruz.
Scientists have cautioned that the insects could pose a growing danger as global temperatures continue to climb, with research indicating Gulf Coast states such as Texas, Florida and Louisiana may face the risk of large-scale infestations by 2055.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said: “The protection of our ranchers, livestock producers, deer breeders and the Texas economy from this pest is a top priority.
“We have eradicated this pest before, and we will do it again in close cooperation with our federal partners. Texans should stay alert, check animals daily for wounds and report any suspected cases immediately.”
