Officials Warn Of New World Screwworm Coming To Texas From Mexico

As if families in Texas don’t have enough to worry about already, there are now some Texas officials who say we need to watch out for a new infectious worm

In a recent article by KXAN, the New World Screwworm was found recently with our neighbors to the South, in Mexico. But the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife wants people to watch out for their animals as they could be affected by these screwworms.  

What to Know About Parasitic Screwworms 

You probably haven’t heard of parasitic screwworms before as they were eradicated from the United States in 1966. Although they have been widespread in some Caribbean and South American countries. 

How Bad Are These Parasitic Screwworms? 

They are disgusting! It’s essentially a larva or maggot that lays eggs in a wound or live tissue like the nostrils, eyes or mouth. The eggs hatch into painful larvae, then maggots, which screw into flesh with sharp mouth hooks. This then leads to parasitic infection.  

The female New World Screwworm flies can lay up to 300 eggs at one time. 

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Watch Your Animals as Screwworms Can Cause Serious Damage 

Screwworms can be very harmful if they infect a person or animal with bacterial superinfection.  

Signs of screwworm infection can include irritated or depressed behavior, loss of appetite, head shaking, smell of decaying flesh, presence of fly larvae in wounds, or isolation from other animals or people.  

If you suspect a potential case, you’re encouraged to report that to a local wildlife biologist, the Texas Animal Health Commission, or the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  

Cleaning and covering all wounds and applying insect repellant can prevent screwworm infection.