06/05/2026
The news is buzzing about the New World screwworm and beef prices ↗️ This parasite doesn’t just affect cattle.
Screwworms can infest any warm‑blooded animal: pigs, sheep, goats, horses, wildlife, pets, and in rare cases, even humans.
Screwworm flies lay eggs in any open wound. The larvae eat living tissue, which makes infestations painful and dangerous if not caught early.
This isn’t new.
Screwworm was once widespread in the U.S. and was eradicated in 1966 using the sterile insect technique. USDA used the same method to eliminate the Florida Keys outbreak in 2017, and they’re doing it again.
Science is cool.
This is not a meat safety issue.
This is an animal welfare issue. And producers, like us, already check livestock daily for any health changes. That’s standard good husbandry, not something new.
Instead of panic, this is a moment to support the farmers and ranchers who are the first line of defense in keeping animals safe and stopping this pest from spreading.
No panic needed 🩷
