Topic: Screwworm

Reports suggest that Mexican cartels are smuggling 800,000 head of cattle annually from Central America into Mexico using falsified records. This illicit trade is being blamed for the reintroduction of the screwworm parasite into Texas, prompting calls for military action against cartel operations.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller criticized the USDA's sterile fly program following a confirmed screwworm case in a goat in Gillespie County. Miller advocates for the Screwworm Adult Suppression System (SWAS) over the current method of releasing billions of sterile flies, which he claims is failing to stop the parasite's 1,100-mile march from Mexico.

The New World screwworm has reportedly returned to Texas, posing a threat to the cattle industry. This biological issue coincides with skyrocketing beef prices, with reports of "jumbo tomahawk" steaks selling for as much as $875 in high-end Austin restaurants. Industry insiders suggest this may lead to a significant reduction in the domestic cattle herd.

The parasitic New World screwworm fly lays eggs in the open wounds of animals, where the larvae then consume the host's flesh. While primarily a threat to livestock, the infestation can also affect pets and, in rare cases, humans. The current outbreak is traced to the movement of infested animals from South America through Mexico into the Laredo area.

The New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite, has reportedly returned to the United States after being held at bay for decades. Texas Slim and Governor Greg Abbott highlighted the threat to the cattle industry, noting that the sterile insect technique program was disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are claims that discussing the parasite's resurgence on social media platforms leads to account shadow-banning.