Screwworm infestation reaches Arizona as five more pets are infected
The New World screwworm infestation has spread to Arizona, where officials confirmed a case in a dog, adding a third US state to the affected area. The larvae feed on living tissue in wounds, making the flies a serious threat to pets, livestock and wildlife.
The US Department of Agriculture has recorded 74 animal cases since the flies reappeared in June, mostly in livestock. This week it reported four new dog cases and one in a cat, bringing the number of affected pets to 10; one wild elk has also been infected. The flies had been eliminated from the US in the 1960s, but the barrier in Central America was breached in 2022.
In short
- Screwworms have reached Arizona, infecting a dog.
- The US has recorded 74 animal cases since June.
- Ten cases have involved pets, including dogs and a cat.
Explained simply
New World screwworm is a fly whose larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, usually through a wound. Untreated infestations can cause serious injury or death, and the risk extends to pets, farm animals and wildlife.
The fly was eliminated from the United States in the 1960s through a programme that kept it out of the country. That protection relied on a barrier in Central America, which was breached in 2022, allowing the infestation to spread north.
The US Department of Agriculture tracks animal cases and works with state authorities on detection and control. The spread matters because infections can affect animal health and farming, and controlling the fly’s movement across regions is central to limiting further cases.
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Originally published by Ars Technica as “Flesh-eating screwworms are feasting on pets; 4 dogs and cat attacked this week”.