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  "path": "/2026/06/04/flesh-eating-parasite-can-infest-humans-animals-found-us-28642159/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-04T07:28:30.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "News",
    "US",
    "US Politics",
    "Weird news",
    "Mexico",
    "border last week after it was found just 30 miles away",
    "homeless",
    "economy",
    "X",
    "Join our community",
    "@TAHC",
    "@GregAbbott_TX",
    "@LtGovTX",
    "@Burrows4TX",
    "https://t.co/dRd6KjmB2J",
    "June 3, 2026",
    "University",
    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source",
    "@SecRollins"
  ],
  "textContent": "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)\n\nThe US has detected a parasite that can eat cattle and wild animals alive for the first time in six decades.\n\nNew World screwworm has been found in a calf in Texas after travelling through Central America and Mexico.\n\nParasitic flies lay eggs in wounds on warm-blooded animals before burrowing into flesh. If untreated, the host dies.\n\nFears were raised it would cross over the border last week after it was found just 30 miles away.\n\nHuman transmission is rare but the first ever case of infestation was confirmed in August last year.\n\nDr 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.\n\nNew World screwworm flies lay eggs in wounds.The maggots then infest the host before eventually killing them (Picture: Department of Agriculture)\n\nThe bug was eradicated in the US in the 1960s but an outbreak in Texas affected more than 1,400,000 cattle in 1976.\n\nToday, that would cost the **economy** in Texas alone an estimated $1,800,000,000, according to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates.\n\nScrewworms can cover large distance burrowed inside their hosts.\n\nBrooke Rollins, the US Secretary of Agriculture, said support has been sent to south Texas.\n\nA New World screwworm outbreak could cost the Texas economy over $1billion, according to USDA estimates (Picture: AP)\n\nIn 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.\n\n‘The NWS specimen has arrived at the airport in Ames, IA, and is being transferred to the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL).’\n\n##  Follow Metro on WhatsApp to be the first to get all the latest news\n\nFollow us to receive the latest news updates from Metro (Picture: Getty Images)\n\nMetro’s on Whatsapp! Join our community for breaking news and juicy stories.\n\n> 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.\n>\n> Our food supply is 100% safe. This potential New World Screworm detection is being fully contained… https://t.co/dRd6KjmB2J\n>\n> — Secretary Brooke Rollins (@SecRollins) June 3, 2026\n\nDavid 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.’\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Flesh-eating parasite that can infest humans and animals found in the US"
}