STORY: The United States has confirmed a case of New World screwworm in Texas cattle, raising alarm for the country's livestock industry.
The parasitic fly lays eggs in open wounds... its larvae burrowing into living tissue, causing severe damage and, if untreated, death.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the infestation was found in a calf near the U.S.-Mexico border.
It marks the first confirmed case in Texas since 1966... and a major concern for ranchers as the pest has steadily moved north through Mexico.
Authorities are moving quickly... imposing quarantines, increasing surveillance, and treating livestock in affected areas.
Officials are also expanding outreach and distributing treatments to stop the spread.
Screwworms most often enter through wounds, and can affect livestock, wildlife, pets... and in rare cases, people.
The USDA says sterile flies are being released to suppress the population.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says the situation is being contained and insists the U.S. food supply remains safe.
Still, the outbreak poses a significant economic risk, with Texas livestock losses potentially reaching billions of dollars if screwworm spreads.
The U.S. cattle herd is already at its lowest level in decades, and any further disruption could see already high beef prices surge again.
Officials are urging ranchers and residents to check animals including pets for unusual wounds and report any suspected infections immediately.
