A case of flies eating meat in Texas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that the New World screwworm, also known as the fly, was detected in a three-week-old calf in La Pryor, Texas, in the state’s southern region.

The case, located approximately 80 kilometers from the Mexican border, is the first confirmed case in the state in 60 years.

Quarantine measures have been initiated.

Texas State Veterinarian Bud Dinges announced that a 20-kilometer quarantine zone was established following the case.

Under the quarantine, no warm-blooded animal, including pets, will be allowed to leave the area without undergoing necessary inspections, according to officials.

Officials stated that the parasite lays eggs in open wounds and the resulting larvae feed on living tissue. The infection, which can be fatal if left untreated, was brought under control after treatment was applied to the calf.

Control efforts are ongoing.

The USDA announced that it has released millions of sterilized male flies into the environment to prevent the parasite’s spread.

The agency also announced investments in new production facilities and the deployment of thousands of fly traps along the U.S.-Mexico border as part of the ongoing fight.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins stated that no other cases have been detected in the country so far, with experts not anticipating a widespread infestation.