First human case of flesh-eating screwworm parasite detected in the U.S.
www.nbcnews.com
The parasite — the larva of the new world screwworm fly — can devastate cattle herds and is rife in parts of Central America.
  • MelonYellow@lemmy.caEnglish
    331·
    7 months ago

    The case, involving a person who had recently traveled to El Salvador,

    “The risk to public health in the United States from this introduction is very low,” [HHS spokesperson Emily G. Hilliard] said.

    U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins traveled to Texas to announce a five-part plan to combat the screwworm on Aug. 15

    This includes plans to breed billions of sterile flies and dump them from the air over southern Texas and Mexico in the hope of stopping the parasite’s spread.

    A report from the USDA last year estimated an outbreak of screwworm could cost Texas at least $1.8 billion due to livestock deaths, labor costs and medication.

    • Ghyste@sh.itjust.works
      291·
      7 months ago

      The case, involving a person who had recently traveled to El Salvador

      So ICE brought screw worms to the US. Great.

    • YiddishMcSquidish@lemmy.todayEnglish
      12·
      7 months ago

      If only we had a program of releasing billions of sterile males in a very narrow strip of land to keep them from coming up here. Oh we did? Trump axed it? Not surprising.