\n Texas-New Mexico Border On Alert After Screwworm Found In Dog And Goat | Image by Canva <\/p>\n
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\u2019s spread near the Texas-New Mexico border.<\/p>\n
According to a June report<\/a> from USDA\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n USDA officials said the case appears isolated, but because the dog\u2019s 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\u2019s household and stepping up outreach to residents in the surrounding area to see if there are any other active cases.<\/p>\n \u201cThis situation is evolving, and we expect new information to emerge as our investigation continues,\u201d Dudley Hoskins, USDA\u2019s Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, said in the report. \u201cUSDA 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Separately, USDA\u2019s National Veterinary Services Laboratories also confirmed a screwworm case in a goat in Gillespie County, Texas \u2013 well east of the border cases that have dominated headlines in recent months. The parasite\u2019s spread has been a recurring story for Dallas Express, including coverage of the statewide quarantine<\/a> 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<\/a> to consolidate NWS resources for producers, veterinarians, and pet owners statewide.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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 \u2014 a decades-old technique used to knock down screwworm populations by flooding the environment with sterile males.<\/p>\n For pet owners, the news raises the question of how an animal gets infected, and what that looks like in practice.<\/p>\n \u201cThe screwworm fly will lay eggs on open wounds, cuts, irritations on skin \u2014 could even be a small scratch like in an ear or around an eye,\u201d said Dr. Shalsee Vigeant, DVM and Medical Director at VEG ER<\/a>, told DX. \u201cWhen those eggs hatch, the worms burrow (make holes) into the skin that they\u2019re on.\u201d<\/p>\n Vigeant said pet owners shouldn\u2019t wait for an obvious wound before checking on their animals. \u201cWarning signs include licking, scratching, or bothering a small sore on the skin, as well as any swelling or discharge near a site,\u201d she said. \u201cIn 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\u2019s skin. If pet owners notice any of these symptoms, have it checked out ASAP.\u201d<\/p>\n That guidance tracks closely with USDA\u2019s 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\u2019s national reporting page<\/a>.<\/p>\n Vigeant said the confirmed cases shouldn\u2019t send local pet owners into a panic. \u201cNWS is something pet owners should be aware of and monitoring for,\u201d she added. \u201cBut it\u2019s 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\u2019re living in a higher-risk area.\u201d<\/p>\n She also addressed concerns about whether the parasite poses a risk to people. \u201cHumans can get infected with screwworm,\u201d Vigeant said, adding, \u201cbut it\u2019s very rare!\u201d<\/p>\n USDA says its overall risk assessment hasn\u2019t changed, but the investigations into both cases remain active, and the agency has pledged to share more updates as they come in.<\/p>\n