Texas Officials Warn About Flesh-Burrowing Parasitic Worms

So there’s this creepy bug that was pretty much wiped out in the U.S. almost 60 years ago, but now it’s coming back!

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Texas wildlife officials are warning people that the New World Screwworm, a nasty parasite, might be making a return. It was spotted in Mexico recently, and Texas is on high alert, especially in South Texas.

Serious Infections

Back in 1966, the U.S. got rid of these parasitic worms, but they’re still a problem in some other countries in the Caribbean and South America. So, what’s the big deal with these screwworms? Well, they’re actually the larvae (aka maggots) of a fly called the New World Screwworm fly. These flies lay their eggs on open wounds or even on the inside of the nostrils, eyes, or mouth of animals. When the eggs hatch, the larvae burrow into the flesh, and it’s not only painful but also leads to serious infections.

Let's Hear it for the Ladies

Female screwworm flies are attracted to wounds because they smell the blood, and one fly can lay up to 300 eggs at a time! While these worms usually go after livestock like cows and sheep, they can also target birds, pets, and even humans. The infection can make the wound worse, causing all kinds of problems, including bacterial infections that can get really dangerous.

Keep an Eye Out

In the past, screwworms were mostly found in tropical and subtropical areas, but recently, they've been spotted in Central America again. Mexican authorities even reported a case of a cow infected by screwworms in November. So now Texas is asking everyone to keep an eye out for signs of infection, like animals acting strange, losing their appetite, shaking their heads, or smelling like rotting flesh. If you spot larvae in an animal’s wound or see an animal acting weird and isolating itself, it could be infected.

If you think you’ve seen a case of screwworms, Texas officials want you to report it. You can reach out to a local wildlife biologist or call the Texas Animal Health Commission or the USDA. And if you’re in areas where the screwworm might be, remember to clean any wounds, cover them up, and maybe use some insect repellent. Better safe than sorry!