TN State Veterinarian Warning Of New Pest

The Tennessee State Veterinarian is warning residents about a new old pest to be on the lookout for. The New World Screwworm was eradicated from the US decades ago, but recent detections in Mexico have led to State Veterinarian, Dr. Samantha Beaty, to warn of the potential for reintroduction and spread of the pest, particularly in the southern states.

So what is the New World Screwworm? It is actually a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, causing painful infected wounds that can cause devastating health impacts to affected animals, which includes livestock as well as household pets. Dr. Beaty says livestock and pet owners alike should watch for wounds that won’t heal or worsen over time; Foul-smelling discharge or visible larvae (maggots) in a wound; and Signs of discomfort or unusual behavior, such as animals avoiding food or isolating themselves.

These flies are easy to spot as they are slightly larger than houseflies and have metallic blue/green bodies, bright orange eyes, and three dark stripes on their backs. Dr. Beaty says while humans can be affected by this parasitic fly, it is rare.