Texas Battles Flesh-Eating Screwworm

Eight confirmed cases of the deadly New World screwworm have emerged in Texas, reigniting fears of a parasite last seen in the U.S. in the 1960s. These flesh-eating larvae threaten livestock, wildlife, and even humans, prompting Governor Abbott to declare a state disaster and mobilize a massive containment effort. Texas is deploying millions of sterile male flies weekly to disrupt reproduction, accelerating construction of a new fly production facility set to open in 2027. Ranchers are on high alert, monitoring animals for signs of infestation, while state lands are being repurposed for fly releases and surveillance. With quarantine zones and movement restrictions in place, officials are racing against time to prevent a catastrophic outbreak that could cost billions and take decades to recover from. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/6c62f7af5a16a5ef