The New World screwworm has not been detected locally; however, Hometown Veterinary Service Owner and Veterinarian Sydney Hennenfent is encouraging cattle producers to remain vigilant and monitor animals closely:
“It is like a maggot that eats living flesh. Right now, we are just seeing it in the southern parts of Texas. I would say a lot of the control of that, they are going to do their absolute best to keep it down there. The same sorts of things that our producers are doing now, they are just going to continue to do and be diligent to do. If you have livestock with open wounds, address those and treat those. If you have non-healing wounds, it is really important to call your vet and have them come out and look to make sure we don’t have a New World screwworm infestation. Fly control is important and then just making sure if you have open wounds that you are treating those.”
