Flesh-Eating Parasites Could Soon Return to Texas

As horrifying as this sounds, it isn’t a run-for-the-hills kind of warning. Think of this more like an urgent message to stay alert in a non-panicky way…👍

Flesh-Eating Parasites in Texas

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is on high alert following an announcement of animals in Mexico affected by possibly the greatest name for a middle school bully: New World Screwworm (NWS).

The reason that Texas is so worried about this is because there is an upward trend of detection in Central America. A positive outbreak was recently detected in Mexico and, given the direction of the spread, it won’t be long until Texas becomes a carrier as well.

Texas hasn’t seen an outbreak since 1966 when the U.S. successfully eradicated the parasite. But now there is a chance it’s back for vengeance.

U.S. Department of Agriculture explains what exactly a screwworm is and what signs to look for if you feel your livestock have been affected.

They say that the name refers to the feeding behavior of fly's maggots. As they eat, they tunnel deeper in a circular fashion like a screw into wood.

These maggots can cause major damage to the animal’s skin as they rip and tear with sharp mouth hooks. The feeding and burrowing of these maggots can lead to a painful condition called NWS Myiasis. This parasitic infection primarily affects livestock, according to the CDC, but can infest people on rare occasions.

Signs that your livestock may be infested with screwworm include the following:

• Noticeably irritated or depressed behavior
• A loss of appetite
• Uncontrollable head shaking
• A smell of decaying or rotting flesh
• A presence of maggots in open wounds
• Isolation from other animals or people

TWPD also include ways to prevent the dangerous insect, like cleaning and covering all open wounds and applying insect repellant to clothing when outside.