health
The Screwworm Is Messing With America’s Beef
The parasite couldn’t have come back at a worse moment.
TL;DR
- The New World screwworm, a fly whose larvae infest the flesh of warm-blooded animals, has been detected in Texas and New Mexico after a 60-year absence.
- The reappearance of the screwworm threatens the already fragile U.S. cattle herd, exacerbating issues of low supply and high beef prices.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's strategy involves releasing sterilized flies to mate with wild populations, a method previously effective in eradicating the pest.
- Challenges include the large number of sterile flies needed, limited production capacity, and political disputes over the response to the outbreak.
- The screwworm's return adds another layer of instability for ranchers already facing uncertainty due to fluctuating trade policies and high cattle prices.