The Return Of Screwworms: What Texas Residents Need To Know

Well, folks, if it's not one thing, it's another, and this time, it looks like flesh-eating parasites are being added to the list of things to worry about in Texas. Joy.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department issued an alert at the end of 2024 that the New World screwworm invasion was slowly making its way to Texas after the flesh-eating parasites were found in cows in southern Mexico.

Gross! So, what is a screwworm?

Screwworms lay eggs in the openings of living mammals and create a nasty cycle of flesh-eating. They haven't been a major problem in a long time. Decades. They plagued ranchers from the 30s to the 50s, and reportedly cost $200 million each year in livestock loss by the 50s. Improvements in science helped us eradicate them years ago.

Now, it looks like they might make a comeback.

But why? What's changed?

Remember the COVID-19 pandemic? Feels like it was nothing but a fever dream sometimes, but it happened. Cattle inspection decreased when the world was hit with illness, allowing screwworms to essentially run amok.

The disgusting little pests have yet to be found in the United States, thank goodness, but over 950 cases of screwworm infections have been reported this year alone in Mexico, which isn't even a hop, skip, and jump away from Texas. It's only a step, and that's pretty sobering.

Texas officials have asked those living along the southern border to take extra precautions and to monitor their pets and livestock for any signs of screwworms.

Itchy after reading that? Me too. Keep scrolling for something less creepy crawly...