The first confirmed human case of a flesh-eating screwworm parasite in the United States has raised concerns among health officials and agricultural communities. Beth Thompson, South Dakota’s state veterinarian made official the recently confirmed case. This breakthrough is alarming because the larvae of this parasite are able to penetrate human skin, causing potential death and disease. Today, cattle ranchers and livestock traders are working overtime to prevent or find an infestation. This announcement comes as they are stepping up their enforcement efforts.
The screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax, which only a few months ago was firmly established in Central America and southern Mexico, has recently extended its range northward. Invasive species has surfaced with multidimensional threats ranging from livestock to human beings. Once hatched, screwworm larvae can kill the host, so rapid action is essential.
Fighting a screwworm infestation is time-consuming and complicated. The required process often involves vacuuming hundreds of larvae from the treatment site. Even more so, it means preemptively disinfecting the injuries to avoid re-infection. Such treatments can be inconvenient and costly for both human and veterinary cases.
As soon as the CDC confirmed their first human case, in Maryland, the CDC rushed to organize a call with all state veterinarians to inform them. We spoke about the significance of this amazing new opportunity. Fauci and other officials have repeatedly assured the public that the risk to health in the United States is still extremely low.
“The risk to public health in the United States from this introduction is very low,” – [a beef industry executive]
Here’s how the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is working to head off the screwworm threat. For starters, they recently announced plans to construct a new sterile fly facility in Texas. Brooke Rollins, USDA Secretary, traveled to Texas to detail these efforts, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures to prevent an outbreak.
Despite a confirmed human case, no animal cases of screwworm have been documented in the U.S. this year. For now, things are manageable. The difference between government and some industry accounts of the human case has created a media stir and public outcry. The pandemic intensified calls for increased transparency and communication during health emergencies.
“We found out via other routes and then had to go to CDC to tell us what was going on,” – [Beth Thompson, South Dakota’s state veterinarian]
While the situation continues to unfold, it’s critical that cattle ranchers, beef producers, and livestock traders stay informed. The possible economic effects of a widespread infestation would be dire, making industry representatives carefully observe the situation as it developed.
“We remain hopeful that, since awareness is currently limited to industry representatives and state veterinarians, the likelihood of a positive case being leaked is low, minimizing market impact,” – [a beef industry executive]