Dangerous Pest Called Screwworm Found in Texas

Government officials have found 12 cases of a dangerous pest called New World screwworm in Texas and New Mexico. This pest is a type of fly that hurts farm animals like cattle, sheep, and goats. The screwworm can also harm pets and even people. Officials are working hard to stop it from spreading to more places.

The screwworm cases are mostly in central and southwest Texas. Six counties have been affected so far: Edwards, Gillespie, La Salle, Sutton, Tom Green, and Zavala. These counties are near San Antonio. One case was also found in New Mexico, where a dog was hurt by the pest.

New World screwworm is a fly that causes serious problems. The fly lays its eggs in open cuts or wounds on animals. It can also lay eggs in body openings like eyes, nose, or mouth. The eggs then hatch into parasitic maggots which eat the animals' living tissue.

The government is taking strong action to fight this problem. Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered an emergency response to deal with the screwworm outbreak. He activated the State Emergency Operations Center to help coordinate efforts. Many different agencies are working together to stop the pest from spreading to new areas.

Pet and animal owners need to watch their animals very carefully. They should look for wounds that are getting worse instead of healing. Bad smells, swelling, and visible maggots in the skin are warning signs. Officials are asking everyone to report suspected cases immediately.