General · Texas behavioral health news
The U.S. last beat screwworm in 1966. Can current leaders learn from the past’s playbook?
Texas Tribune – Health · By Jayme Lozano Carver · June 25, 2026
In plain language
The New World screwworm has recently re-entered the United States, raising concerns about its impact on livestock and animals. These parasites are actually flies that lay eggs in open wounds, causing severe injury or death. In the past, Texas faced massive outbreaks that killed hundreds of thousands of animals and cost billions of dollars. Experts are now looking at historical methods, such as releasing sterile flies, to help control and eliminate the pest once again.
AI-generated summary of the source article. Not medical advice.
Key takeaways
- The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly that infests the wounds of living animals and humans.
- A recent funding cut for monitoring programs in Central America preceded the pest's re-emergence in the U.S.
- The primary method for eradication involves releasing millions of sterile flies to stop the population from breeding.
- Historical outbreaks in Texas have caused billions of dollars in economic losses and widespread livestock deaths.
- Experts warn that managing these pests requires a large-scale, preventative response rather than treating individual cases.
A United States Department of Agriculture photograph taken circa 1953-55 reads, “Flies From Irradiated Pupae Were Permitted to Emerge in Special Paper Bags and Held Until Released.” " data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/USDA-Screwworm-Archives-03-3x2-1.jpg?fit=780%2C520&ssl=1" /> Faced with a modern outbreak that could endure for decades, historical documents are offering officials solutions to eradicate the parasite again. The post The U.S. last beat screwworm in 1966. Can current leaders learn from the past’s playbook? appeared first on The Texas Tribune.
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