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Producers should stay calm but vigilant over New World screwworm detection

A swine veterinarian is encouraging U.S. livestock producers not to panic following the confirmation of New World screwworm in South Texas.

Pat Hoffman is with Elanco.

“First thing I’d say is ‘take a deep breath.’ The United States has dealt with this before and we’ve eradicated it. And so it’s nothing new really (and) we have even more tools in the toolbox. We have faster diagnostics, we have faster ability to communicate these days.”

Speaking to Brownfield during the World Pork Expo in Des Moines, he said livestock producers do need to be vigilant about treating open wounds.

“Some of which we create ourselves, either through castration or ear tags. And those goes for pigs and cattle, or ear notching for that matter. But just be super vigilant about those kinds of things, and then be very connected with your veterinarian.”

New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on living tissue and is not considered a food safety threat.