Flesh-eating parasite that can infest humans and animals found in the US

Larvae of the screwworm fly, collected from infected cows. The parasite has been found in the US for the first time since the 1960s (Picture: Reuters)

The US has detected a parasite that can eat cattle and wild animals alive for the first time in six decades.

New World screwworm has been found in a calf in Texas after travelling through Central America and Mexico.

Parasitic flies lay eggs in wounds on warm-blooded animals before burrowing into flesh. If untreated, the host dies.

Fears were raised it would cross over the border last week after it was found just 30 miles away.

Human transmission is rare but the first ever case of infestation was confirmed in August last year.

Dr Timothy Goldsmith, a veterinary medicine professor at the University of Minnesota, said homeless people are particularly vulnerable to infestation because they sleep outside, and have less access to medical care.

New World screwworm flies lay eggs in wounds.The maggots then infest the host before eventually killing them (Picture: Department of Agriculture)

The bug was eradicated in the US in the 1960s but an outbreak in Texas affected more than 1,400,000 cattle in 1976.

Today, that would cost the economy in Texas alone an estimated $1,800,000,000, according to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates.

Screwworms can cover large distance burrowed inside their hosts.

Brooke Rollins, the US Secretary of Agriculture, said support has been sent to south Texas.

A New World screwworm outbreak could cost the Texas economy over $1billion, according to USDA estimates (Picture: AP)

In a post on X, she said: ‘This potential New World Screwworm detection is being fully contained and is not a harm to the American food supply or consumer safety.

‘The NWS specimen has arrived at the airport in Ames, IA, and is being transferred to the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL).’

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Just wrapped up a virtual meeting with ~50 of our outstanding Texas cattle ranchers and @TAHC. I also have been in contact with @GregAbbott_TX, @LtGovTX, and the @Burrows4TX team.

Our food supply is 100% safe. This potential New World Screworm detection is being fully contained… https://t.co/dRd6KjmB2J

— Secretary Brooke Rollins (@SecRollins) June 3, 2026

David Anderson, a livestock economist at Texas A&M University, said: ‘This is a pest we don’t want back. This is a bad thing. I can’t imagine having to deal with that. It’s gross.’

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