A Deadly Flesh-Eating Parasite Nears the US Border
A flesh-eating parasite has resurfaced in northern Mexico, nearing the US border, sparking concern among US ranchers and veterinarians.
In September, Mexican authorities confirmed a case of the deadly parasite in the state of Nuevo León, less than 70 miles from the Texas border.
- The parasite, Cochliomyia hominivorax, also known as the New World screwworm, was found in an eight-month-old cow near the busy Monterrey-to-Laredo highway.
- This marks the northernmost detection of the parasite in decades and the closest it has been to the US since its eradication over half a century ago.
The discovery has set off alarm bells among US ranchers and veterinarians, who still remember the devastation this flesh-eating insect once caused.
The screwworm, a metallic blue-grey blowfly, appears ordinary but its larvae burrow into the flesh of living animals, causing significant harm.
Author's summary: A deadly flesh-eating parasite is nearing the US border, causing concern among ranchers and veterinarians.