First case of screwworm in the US since the 80s - in Florida!

LINK

Saw this on the OB and decided to post here b/c this is a big deal. We now have emergence of a disease that was eradicated through the 60s, 70s, and early 80s. During that time it cost livestock/equine industries many millions of dollars and was a real PIA to get rid of.

All of the sudden this disease is back and it's in Florida. As I mentioned in the OB thread this is scary to me considering a massive hurricane could easily pick up some of these flies and zip them right up the coast and into main part of the SE US. If this disease came back you would definitely notice a difference at the grocery.

Here is a pic of a deer with screwworm infestation in the keys.



Some info on the disease:

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Cochliomyia hominivorax, referred to as the primary screwworm causes obligatory myiasis (feeds on live flesh as a primary source of food) and is a major economic pest.

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The female is attracted to fresh open wounds on any warm-bloodied animal. The wounds can range from a thorn scratch, insect or tick bite mark to a gaping laceration. The females are also attracted to the newborn umbilicus of calves, castrated calves, and dehorning, branding or shearing wounds. The female screwworm will quickly lay 100-300 eggs on the dry perimeter of the wound.

In less than 24 hours, larvae hatch from the eggs and begin to feed on the open wound. It will take 1-2 weeks for the larvae to become fully developed, in that time they will consume a large amount of dead and live flesh.

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Untreated screwworm infestations can be fatal. The larvae will continue to feed on the animal and will eventually eat the host alive.

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