The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed the first case of New World screwworm detected in a dog in the United States, along with a new case in a Texas goat, as federal and state officials race to contain the flesh-eating parasite’s spread near the Texas-New Mexico border.
According to a June report from USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the dog case was initially reported in Andrews County, Texas, but was later reclassified as the first confirmed case in New Mexico after investigators determined the animal actually lives at a household in Lea County, New Mexico. However, the veterinarian who reported the case is based in Texas.
USDA officials said the case appears isolated, but because the dog’s travel history and possible exposure to the parasite remain unknown, the agency has expanded their investigation into the report. That includes inspecting other animals in the dog’s household and stepping up outreach to residents in the surrounding area to see if there are any other active cases.
“This situation is evolving, and we expect new information to emerge as our investigation continues,” Dudley Hoskins, USDA’s Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, said in the report. “USDA is committed to sharing what we learn quickly, accurately, and transparently so animal owners and local communities have the information they need to stay vigilant.”
Separately, USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories also confirmed a screwworm case in a goat in Gillespie County, Texas – well east of the border cases that have dominated headlines in recent months. The parasite’s spread has been a recurring story for Dallas Express, including coverage of the statewide quarantine Texas declared across 10 counties last month after the first cases surfaced in livestock. Additionally, Gov. Greg Abbott has since launched a centralized state website to consolidate NWS resources for producers, veterinarians, and pet owners statewide.
USDA and the Texas Animal Health Commission are now working to gather more details, set up surveillance, and get information out to residents in that area as well.
New World screwworm is the larval stage of a fly whose maggots burrow into the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, rather than feeding on dead tissue like most maggot species. Left untreated, an infestation can cause severe wounds and even kill an animal. USDA’s response for the New Mexico case includes continued epidemiological tracing, sampling of other animals in the household, fly trapping, and preparations to release sterile flies if needed — a decades-old technique used to knock down screwworm populations by flooding the environment with sterile males.
For pet owners, the news raises the question of how an animal gets infected, and what that looks like in practice.
“The screwworm fly will lay eggs on open wounds, cuts, irritations on skin — could even be a small scratch like in an ear or around an eye,” said Dr. Shalsee Vigeant, DVM and Medical Director at VEG ER, told DX. “When those eggs hatch, the worms burrow (make holes) into the skin that they’re on.”
Vigeant said pet owners shouldn’t wait for an obvious wound before checking on their animals. “Warning signs include licking, scratching, or bothering a small sore on the skin, as well as any swelling or discharge near a site,” she said. “In case the wound is not visible, pet owners should also look out for signs of a decreased appetite or feeling of general malaise, accompanied by an area of swelling on the pet’s skin. If pet owners notice any of these symptoms, have it checked out ASAP.”
That guidance tracks closely with USDA’s own recommendations. The agency is urging residents in affected areas to inspect their animals daily for draining or enlarging wounds, maggots or egg masses, signs of discomfort or irritability, and lesions around body openings like the ears, nose, genital area or umbilicus. Anyone who suspects an infestation is asked to contact a veterinarian, state animal health official, or USDA directly through the agency’s national reporting page.
Vigeant said the confirmed cases shouldn’t send local pet owners into a panic. “NWS is something pet owners should be aware of and monitoring for,” she added. “But it’s nothing to panic over. Taking precautions like keeping pets inside or checking them daily for any type of wound or infection is very helpful, as is extra vigilance if you’re living in a higher-risk area.”
She also addressed concerns about whether the parasite poses a risk to people. “Humans can get infected with screwworm,” Vigeant said, adding, “but it’s very rare!”
USDA says its overall risk assessment hasn’t changed, but the investigations into both cases remain active, and the agency has pledged to share more updates as they come in.
Provided by Dallas Express
