New World Screwworm is in the headlines currently.
What should you know and what should you be worried about?
New world Screwworm is the larva of the New World Screwworm Fly. These flies find an open wound, or an open space on an animal like their ears, eyes, or nostrils.
They then feed on the living tissue surrounding the area by screwing into the animal. This sounds like a very scary insect, and it can be when it goes unnoticed and untreated.
However, the USDA has been expecting this for over a year now and they have developed a plan to eradicate this.
Some of you may remember when the New World Screwworm was around in the late 1960s. It has been eradicated before and migrated south to central and South America where it remained for several decades.
Due to warmer winters and milder temperatures across the southern United States, the New World Screwworm has gradually expanded its range northward from Mexico.
As of June 3, it has been detected in Texas and New Mexico. The way we eradicate this pest is by using sterilized male flies to mate with the female flies.
These specific types of flies only mate once, they then lay their eggs and die. So, if we can stop those eggs from hatching, we can stop the reproduction and the spread of these pests.
The USDA is currently dropping millions of these sterilized flies to slow the spread, and they are building more facilities to create and produce these flies. They have also set up fly traps along the border to capture as many as possible. The only issue is that we don’t have the volume of sterilized flies that are needed yet and it takes time to create the facilities to produce them.
The good news for us in Kentucky is that it is not here yet. If you are in Texas or New Mexico or even more southern states, you do have something to worry about but that is not the case here.
The first time these flies were in the country they never made it to Kentucky, and we can hope that this will remain the case. Some things you need to be mindful about are that these are tropical insects and they cannot survive a Kentucky winter.
So, if they do end up here, they won’t be here to stay. Also, they must sit on an animal for 15-16 minutes before they can lay their eggs.
These flies are not picky about what they are eating so anything can become infected, not just cows. This includes your pets, wildlife, and even yourself. Being aware of what to expect and look for is the best line of defense against these pests.
If you are transporting cattle from Texas or New Mexico you will still be able to do that. There are several more steps and procedures that will need to happen before they can leave those areas and even once they are here.
The Extension Office has this information for you if you are interested. If you suspect an animal or you have contracted this, you should report it right away and take samples for the authorities. You will see a small cut or wound turn into a much larger wound within days. They also describe a smell that is very pungent and something you will never forget. Monitor your animals and report anything that seems suspicious to your vet and give us a call so we can investigate further.
If you are planning to travel to these areas, be aware of your surroundings and make sure you are thoroughly checking yourself and your animals for signs. For more information visit screwworm.gov or call the extension office 270-384-2317.
