Latest news with #APHIS
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Officials step up plans to combat flesh-eating screwworm
Texas officials are stepping up their plans to stop the spread of a flesh-eating parasite, [Reuters reports]( The parasite, known as the New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax), has triggered a public health emergency in Costa Rica, prompting experts to warn Canadian travellers to take precautions. State-side, Texas officials said Wednesday they are building a sterile fly dispersal facility. The Department of Agriculture also announced plans for a sterile fly production facility at Moore Air Base, which could take two to three years to construct. New World screwworm (NWS) was eradicated from the U.S. in 1966, but the current health emergencies in central America and Mexico have seen the parasite moving northward. On its website, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) says it has been partnering with other USDA agencies, including the U.S. Department of State, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and affected countries to combat the outbreak. "APHIS is investing $109.8 million to combat new NWS detections in Central America and Mexico to keep the pest from spreading into North America," the agency's website reads. "With this funding, APHIS aims to eradicate NWS in Central America and Mexico and re-establish the biological barrier." On Wednesday, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the USDA is also working with state animal health officials to draft an emergency response and stockpile medications in case NWS breaches the border, according to Reuters. In March, infectious disease specialist Dr. Issac Bogoch took to X to spread awareness and warn Canadians, especially those travelling to destinations like the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and Mexico. "The "barrier" preventing New world screwworm flies (Cochliomyia hominivorax) from spreading north of Panama has been breached," The Toronto-based doctor said on social media. "We recently cared for a patient who contracted this infestation on a trip to Costa Rica." Despite what its name suggests, the New World screwworm is not a worm at all—it is a species of parasitic fly. Female screwworm flies lay their eggs in open wounds, scrapes, or insect bites on people and animals. When the eggs hatch, the larvae burrow into the flesh, feeding on living tissue and potentially causing serious wounds, infections, and even death if left untreated. Infections occur primarily in livestock but people can and do get infected, including an 80-year-old Canadian male traveller who went to a Toronto hospital with an NWS infection (also called myiasis) after visiting Costa Rica. Speaking with CP24, Dr. Bogoch said NWS is a public health issue that can also impact food security. 'This infection can decimate wildlife and livestock,' he told the news outlet. NWS is commonly found in Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and South American countries but (APHIS) says cases are spreading to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador and Mexico, beyond a biological border that had previously contained the spread. The agency says there has been an "explosion" in NWS detections in Panama. In 2023 cases went up from an average of 25 cases annually to more than 6,500 cases in one year. (APHIS/ APHIS and Panama co-managed the biological border that "successfully" contained the pest in South America for "decades," APHIS says on its website. The now-breached barrier resides in the eastern portion of Panama. The outbreak declarations in Costa Rica and Mexico have triggered emergency responses in the United States, Mexico, and Costa Rica, which first declared an NWS emergency in February. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you can become infected if: You travel to affected areas (like Costa Rica, Nicaragua, or Mexico); You have open cuts, sores, or scratches; You come into contact with livestock or wildlife carrying the parasite. Canadian travellers can protect themselves by: Covering any cuts or scratches with clean, dry bandages; Using insect repellent, especially on exposed skin; Wearing long sleeves and pants in rural areas or places with plants and trees; Avoiding close contact with stray animals or livestock; Consulting a travel health clinic and a medical professional before travelling. There are no vaccines or medications that prevent infection. If you suspect infection: Seek medical attention immediately. Do not attempt to remove larvae yourself. Treatment usually involves the extraction of the larvae and prescription antibiotics. The parasite typically needs warm conditions to survive and Canada's cooler climate acts as a natural barrier. This parasite is not currently found in Canada, but with travel-related cases increasing and the barrier that once stopped its spread now breached, Canadians heading south should be on alert. Always check travel health advisories and when in doubt, speak to a medical professional before travel. Header image: File photo of new age screwworm larvae (CDC].
Malaysian Reserve
4 days ago
- Science
- Malaysian Reserve
Detector Dogs: Agriculture's Best Friend
MISSION, Kan., June 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — (Family Features) They may be cute, fluffy and friendly, but some dogs also have an important job: protecting America's food supply. By deploying specially trained beagles, Labrador retrievers and Jack Russell terriers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal Plant Health Inspection Services' (APHIS) Detector Dog Program puts elite canines to work on the front lines at international airports, mail facilities and border crossings throughout the nation. These furry sleuths maneuver between passengers and luggage to search, locate and respond to the presence of banned fruits, plants and meats that may harbor damaging insects and diseases that threaten the country's agricultural production and natural resources. The program was started in 1984 and soon grew in demand. By 2009, APHIS opened a 17-acre National Detector Dog Training Center near the Atlanta International Airport. At the center, dogs and their handlers go through an 8-10-week training program to learn how to inspect passenger luggage and handbags for agricultural goods such as fruits, vegetables, beef and pork. Detector dogs patrol ports of entry, borders and airports to keep harmful pests, like invasive fruit flies, out of the country. For example, labrador retrievers and their handlers protect the nation's fruit by patrolling citrus orchards along the Texas–Mexico border in search of infested or diseased crops. Safeguarding U.S. agriculture and natural resources is part of the program's mission, but APHIS' Detector Dog Program also partners with countries like Canada and Taiwan to supply guidance, training and testing of canine detection. There are even detector dog teams on the job at cargo airports throughout countries in the Pacific, tasked with identifying invasive species and stopping them from reaching Hawaii. The work these dogs and their handlers do is critical to help stop the spread of invasive plant and animal pests and diseases that could ravage America's agriculture. A detector dog's career spans 6-8 years before they retire at 9 years old. At retirement age, 90% of dogs are adopted by their handler. In the rare case they are not, the handler will recommend a good home and a successful adoption program ensures all dogs are well placed. Constantly on the lookout for new pups, APHIS works closely with animal shelters, rescue groups and private individuals to find the right dogs for the job from anywhere in the country. New recruits are 1-3 years old, heartworm negative, have high food drive and are environmentally and socially friendly. The ideal candidate is often that high-energy, hard-to-handle pooch who simply needs a job and a purpose. If you or someone you know would like to help the program grow its squad of super sniffers, email usdacanineadoptions@ call (887) 797-3899 or learn more at Content courtesy of USDA Michael Frenchmfrench@ About Family Features Editorial SyndicateA leading source for high-quality food, lifestyle and home and garden content, Family Features provides readers with topically and seasonally relevant tips, takeaways, information, recipes, videos, infographics and more. Find additional articles and information at and
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Horse Imports Halted At Mexican Border Due To Screwworm
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced the suspension of live cattle, horse, and bison imports through U.S. ports of entry along the southern border due to the continued and rapid northward spread of New World Screwworm (NWS) in Mexico, effective immediately. NWS has been recently detected in remote farms with minimal cattle movement as far north as Oaxaca and Veracruz, about 700 miles away from the U.S. border. The United States and Mexico continue efforts to interdict and eradicate NWS in Mexico and work in good faith. However, despite these efforts and the economic impact on both countries due to this action, there has been unacceptable northward advancement of NWS and additional action must be taken to slow the northern progression of this deadly parasitic fly. As such, effective immediately, the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in conjunction with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will restrict the importation of live animal commodities originating from, or transiting Mexico. This import suspension will persist on a month-by-month basis, until a significant window of containment is achieved. USDA will continue constant collaboration with Mexico, including a review of latest data and metrics in two weeks. Our teams have been in daily communication discussing how we can build on the good work that has been accomplished to improve our strategy toward eradication. Any livestock currently in holding for entry into the United States will be processed normally, this includes an APHIS port Veterinary Medical Officer inspection exam and treatment to ensure they are not carrying NWS. 'The United States has ordered the suspension of livestock imports through ports of entry along our southern border after the continued spread of the New World Screwworm in Mexico. Secretary Berdegué and I have worked closely on the NWS response; however, it is my duty to take all steps within my control to protect the livestock industry in the United States from this devastating pest,' said Secretary Rollins. 'The protection of our animals and safety of our nation's food supply is a national security issue of the utmost importance. Once we see increased surveillance and eradication efforts, and the positive results of those actions, we remain committed to opening the border for livestock trade. This is not about politics or punishment of Mexico, rather it is about food and animal safety.' Effective eradication, which remains our shared goal and best interest of both the U.S. and Mexico, requires a three-pronged approach: robust active field surveillance with education and outreach to ensure prevention, treatment, and early detection; controlled animal movement to limit spread; and sustained sterile insect dispersal. Suspending livestock transport through southern ports of entry will assist in the effort to limit northbound transport of NWS through livestock commerce, and will allow the U.S. to reassess whether current mitigation standards remain sufficient. It is important to note the northward spread of NWS is possible through natural wildlife movements, including wildlife that transit the border region without impediment. USDA is taking all possible actions to monitor for, and limit, the northward movement of NWS, including the utilization of the USDA Tick Riders to monitor livestock and wildlife along the southern border region, between the ports of entry, for the presence of U.S. previously and successfully led the eradication of NWS in the U.S. and Mexico, however this cost billions of dollars and took decades. Unfortunately, these recent detections in Mexico show that this dangerous pest is back and remains a serious threat to the health of our animals, our food supply, and the security of our country. BACKGROUND The first case of NWS in Mexico was reported to the U.S. in November 2024. When NWS fly larvae (maggots) burrow into the flesh of a living animal, they cause serious, often deadly damage to the animal. NWS can infest livestock, pets, wildlife, occasionally birds, and in rare cases, people. In November 2024, after a positive detection of NWS in southern Mexico, USDA shut down the border for live animal trade. In February 2025, USDA resumed imports after APHIS and Mexico agreed to and implemented a comprehensive pre-clearance inspection and treatment protocol to ensure safe movement and steps to mitigate the threat of NWS. Over the last two years, screwworm has spread north throughout Panama and into Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize, and now Mexico. APHIS is releasing sterile flies through aerial and ground release at strategic locations, focusing on Southern Mexico and other areas throughout Central America. A complete list of regions APHIS recognizes as affected by NWS as well as more detailed information on trade restrictions can be found on the USDA APHIS Animal Health Status of Regions website.
New York Post
14-05-2025
- General
- New York Post
Flesh-eating New World Screwworm could pose health risks to cattle, humans
A threat to American livestock – the New World Screwworm (NWS) fly, which has been considered eradicated from the country since 1966 — has reemerged as a potential danger following an outbreak in Mexico. The news triggered a shutdown of cattle, horse and bison imports along the southern border, as U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins announced in an X post on Sunday. Advertisement 'Due to the threat of New World Screwworm I am announcing the suspension of live cattle, horse, & bison imports through U.S. southern border ports of entry effective immediately,' she wrote in the post. 'The last time this devastating pest invaded America, it took 30 years for our cattle industry to recover. This cannot happen again.' What is the New World Screwworm? The NWS is a fly that is endemic in Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and some South American countries, according to the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). While the flies themselves are found in forests and other wooded areas, they will seek hosts like cattle or horses in pastures and fields, per the above source. Advertisement A female fly lays eggs in a wound or orifice of a live, warm-blooded animal. The eggs then hatch into larvae (maggots) that burrow into the flesh, causing potentially deadly damage. An outbreak in Mexico has led to the New World Screwworm (NWS) fly — which was considered eradicated from the U.S. since 1966 — to pose a potential danger to livestock across the country. Rmd17 – Screwworms are named for their maggots' behavior, as they burrow into the flesh similar to how a screw is driven into wood. Advertisement 'Maggots cause extensive damage by tearing at the hosts' tissue with sharp mouth hooks,' according to the APHIS website. This can then enlarge the wound and attract more flies to lay eggs. In rare cases, the larvae can feed on people, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states. These infestations can be very painful and can cause serious, potentially fatal damage to their hosts by causing myiasis, a parasitic infection of fly larvae in human tissue. Advertisement U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins said on X, 'I am announcing the suspension of live cattle, horse, & bison imports through U.S. southern border ports of entry effective immediately.' REUTERS Risk factors and prevention Screwworms are often found in South America and the Caribbean. 'People who travel to these areas, spend time among livestock animals, sleep outdoors and have an open wound are at greater risk of becoming infested with NWS,' says the CDC. People who are immunocompromised, very young or very old, or malnourished are also at a higher risk of infection, the above source stated. Those who have had recent surgery are also at a higher risk, 'as the flies will lay eggs on open sores,' according to the CDC. Potential impact If another outbreak were to occur in the U.S., 'pets, livestock, wildlife and even humans may suffer and die from screwworm myiasis,' the USDA warned. The USDA estimates that livestock producers in the southwestern U.S. lost between $50 million and $100 million annually due to NWS in the 1950s and 1960s until it was successfully eradicated. Advertisement 'Presumably, these higher losses in the Southwest were due to higher livestock populations, larger geographic area and/or greater potential for NWS to overwinter,' stated the report. While the USDA eradicated NWS in 1966, there was an outbreak contained within the Florida Keys in 2016. It affected only in the endangered deer population and was eradicated by March 2017, per APHIS. Greg Wehner contributed reporting.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Flesh-eating New World Screwworm could pose health risks to cattle, humans
A threat to American livestock – the New World Screwworm (NWS) fly, which has been considered eradicated from the country since 1966 — has reemerged as a potential danger following an outbreak in Mexico. The news triggered a shutdown of cattle, horse and bison imports along the southern border, as U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins announced in an X post on Sunday. "Due to the threat of New World Screwworm I am announcing the suspension of live cattle, horse, & bison imports through U.S. southern border ports of entry effective immediately," she wrote in the post. Dangerous Fungus Could Spread To Parts Of Us, Researchers Claim "The last time this devastating pest invaded America, it took 30 years for our cattle industry to recover. This cannot happen again." The NWS is a fly that is endemic in Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and some South American countries, according to the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Read On The Fox News App While the flies themselves are found in forests and other wooded areas, they will seek hosts like cattle or horses in pastures and fields, per the above source. A female fly lays eggs in a wound or orifice of a live, warm-blooded animal. The eggs then hatch into larvae (maggots) that burrow into the flesh, causing potentially deadly damage. Measles Scare At Major Airport: What To Know About Potential Exposure Screwworms are named for their maggots' behavior, as they burrow into the flesh similar to how a screw is driven into wood. For more Health articles, visit "Maggots cause extensive damage by tearing at the hosts' tissue with sharp mouth hooks," according to the APHIS website. This can then enlarge the wound and attract more flies to lay eggs. In rare cases, the larvae can feed on people, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states. These infestations can be very painful and can cause serious, potentially fatal damage to their hosts by causing myiasis, a parasitic infection of fly larvae in human tissue. Screwworms are often found in South America and the Caribbean. "People who travel to these areas, spend time among livestock animals, sleep outdoors and have an open wound are at greater risk of becoming infested with NWS," says the CDC. People who are immunocompromised, very young or very old, or malnourished are also at a higher risk of infection, the above source stated. Those who have had recent surgery are also at a higher risk, "as the flies will lay eggs on open sores," according to the CDC. If another outbreak were to occur in the U.S., "pets, livestock, wildlife and even humans may suffer and die from screwworm myiasis," the USDA warned. The USDA estimates that livestock producers in the southwestern U.S. lost between $50 million and $100 million annually due to NWS in the 1950s and 1960s until it was successfully eradicated. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter "Presumably, these higher losses in the Southwest were due to higher livestock populations, larger geographic area and/or greater potential for NWS to overwinter," stated the report. While the USDA eradicated NWS in 1966, there was an outbreak contained within the Florida Keys in 2016. It affected only in the endangered deer population and was eradicated by March 2017, per APHIS. Greg Wehner contributed article source: Flesh-eating New World Screwworm could pose health risks to cattle, humans
