The CDC issued a health alert Tuesday: flesh-eating New World Screwworm flies are spreading in Mexico. The parasite threatens animals in Tamaulipas, near the Texas border. Doctors and vets are urged to watch for maggot-infested wounds.
The alert, released via the Health Alert Network, details how to handle infestations. All maggots must be removed to save the patient. No parasites should survive. The NWS fly lays up to 400 eggs in warm-blooded animals' wounds. These eggs hatch into flesh-eating maggots.
The outbreak's immediate impact is on livestock in Tamaulipas. Authorities are working to contain the spread. Failure to control the screwworm could devastate agriculture.
The New World Screwworm was eradicated from the US in the 1960s. This was achieved through sterile insect release. The program involved releasing sterile male flies to disrupt reproduction. The current outbreak highlights the risk of re-emergence.
Health officials will monitor the situation closely. Further spread towards the US border is a major concern. International collaboration is crucial to prevent a wider crisis.
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