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Parasitic screwworm outbreak raises concerns in Texas

02:25

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August 15, 2025

An outbreak of flesh-eating parasites in central and northern America has begun spreading through livestock. The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly that lays its larvae in open wounds of warm-blooded animals — and humans.

The screwworm fly, once eradicated, has resurfaced in Mexico, infecting thousands of livestock and killing one person. The fly lays eggs in wounds, and larvae consume hosts from within. Ranchers blame poor border controls and fear underreporting. The US has halted cattle imports and restarted sterilized fly programs — but farmers say time is running out.

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