Stopping the spread: What you must know about New World screwworm

INDIANAPOLIS — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed the presence of New World screwworm in Texas and New Mexico, sounding the alarm for producers across the country to be cautious and keep an eye out for the pest.

Katie Nelson, Indiana Farm Bureau’s executive director of public policy, interviewed Dr. Kyle Shipman, Indiana state veterinarian, and Brian Shuter, executive vice president of the Indiana Beef Cattle Association, in a recent video.

“The screwworm gets its name from the pupa in that stage actually can screw into living tissue,” Shipman said.

“The fly looks for a wound, and once there it will lay eggs. They’ll pupate out, and then it can really dive into that wound and make the wound even larger. That’s where the dangers lie.”

Any warm-blooded animal is susceptible, including beef cattle, swine, farm-raised deer, wildlife, pets and even humans.

“If we look at the data coming out of Central and South America, as well as Mexico, we’re seeing over 150,000 livestock cases, but also over 1,500 human cases of being impacted by this screwworm,” Shipman said.

Livestock producers and pet owners are encouraged to watch for unusual flies or maggots on their livestock, poultry and pets.

Infestations should be treated by a veterinarian with specific Food and Drug Administration-approved medications labeled as effective on NWS. Some pesticides are labeled for NWS control.

“New World screwworm could have a devastating impact on animal health, welfare and producer livelihoods,” said Jeff Simmons, president and CEO of Elanco Animal Health.

“We want to thank the FDA, Environmental Protection Agency and USDA, for all their work to prepare for this threat. We’re committed to supporting our customers during this challenging time by delivering innovation, scientific expertise and available resources to help treat New World screwworm and support the health and well-being of animals.”

How To Take Action

Inspect pets, livestock and poultry for signs of NWS, such as draining or enlarging wounds or signs of discomfort, especially if an animal has been in a NWS-infested area.

Report suspicious wounds, maggots or infestations of possible NWS flies to your veterinarian or to BOAH via the online form.

Protect animals by reporting possible NWS cases in Indiana to BOAH at tinyurl.com/Indiana-NWS-Reporting.

Learn more at in.gov/boah.