The New World Screwworm Fly is once again in the United States after being eradicated in 1966. The Fly lays its eggs on the moist tissue or open wounds of warm-blooded animals and humans. Unlike other fly larvae, the NWS larva eats live tissue, making it more dangerous than those that feed on dead tissue. As the NWS larva can cause secondary bacterial infections and death, it is understandable that governments would want to prevent the spread to their jurisdictions. The federal government, most states, and some local jurisdictions have created rules for traveling with pets into their jurisdictions. Animal owners traveling to other areas should be aware of the rules in the jurisdictions they pass through as well as their destination, including their return trip. Below are links to the federal and state rules. As the infestation is likely to persist for some time, pet owners will want to review the rules for every trip, as more jurisdictions may add restrictions or change existing ones.
Federal and State NWS links:
CFA Resources:
What’s Hot … The New World Screwworm Impact on Fanciers
External Resources:
“The Facts About New World Screwworm”, USDA APHIS
“Animal travel rules imposed as screwworm spreads in US”, VinNEWS
“Digging Deeper: How to Protect Pets From The New World Screwworm”, Tx A&M
“Introduction: Understanding the NWS Threat to Companion Animals”, Tx A&M
“New World Screwworm (NWS)”, AVMA
“USDA defends screwworm response amid congressional fingerpointing”, Texas Tribune