New World screwworm larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, creating severe wounds that can be fatal if left untreated.

A case of flesh-eating New World screwworm has been detected in South Texas, the US Department of Agriculture said Wednesday. It is the first time this parasitic fly – whose…

The USDA said the only animal affected was a 3-week-old calf in Zavala County, Texas, after larvae were identified in its umbilical area.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said USDA officials detected a screwworm on a three-week-old calf in Texas, near the Mexican border.

Flesh-eating screwworm parasite infection: The deadly flies were detected in Mexico late in 2024, after years of being contained at the southern end of Panama.