Flesh-Eating Screwworm Parasite Near Texas Border Threatens Wildlife

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Texas wildlife officials raise alarm as flesh-eating "maneater" screwworm parasite detected near southern border in Mexican cattle.

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Female screwworm flies target open wounds and natural openings like nostrils, laying up to 300 eggs at once to create deadly infestations.

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Maggots burrow deep into living tissue using sharp mouth hooks, causing severe damage that often leads to death in affected animals.

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Scientific name Cochliomyia hominivorax earned its "maneater" reputation with 230,000 US cases reported in 1935 alone.

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USDA's sterile male fly release program successfully eliminated screwworm from US in 1966, saving agriculture $900 million annually.

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Screwworm remains active across South America, Caribbean nations, with recent spread northward through Central America to Mexico.

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Single female fly produces up to 3,000 eggs during lifetime, while adult flies travel long distances to find new hosts.

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Panama maintains crucial barrier zone to prevent screwworm's northward movement toward screwworm-free regions.

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Texas Parks and Wildlife Department urges hunters and outdoor enthusiasts to monitor wildlife for clinical signs of infestation.

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Protection requires cleaning and covering all wounds when outdoors, plus applying insect repellent to clothing in affected areas.

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