Authorities Confirm First Screwworm Case in U.S. in 60 Years

A flesh-eating, parasitic worm has been discovered in the United States once again, according to officials. In a post to social media on Wednesday, June 3, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins confirmed the presence of Cochliomyia hominivorax, the New World screwworm fly, also known as the New World screwworm or simply screwworm. “As expected, @USDA_APHIS confirmed the detection of a New World Screwworm (NWS) fly in a 3 week old bovine in Zavala County, Texas,” she tweeted […]

https://drinkofjesus.com/2026/06/04/authorities-confirm-first-screwworm-case-in-u-s-in-60-years/

Flesh-eating New World screwworm found in Texas calf, USDA says: The USDA said the only animal affected was a 3-week-old calf in Zavala County, Texas, after larvae were identified in its umbilical area. #NewWorldScrewworm #USDA #TexasCalf #FleshEating #AnimalHealth

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umlegacypress
#Texas prepares for war as invasion of #flesheating #flies appears imminent
In #Colombia, the #parasites were caught expanding into endangered wild mountain tapirs.
Texas Department of Agriculture announced the debut of TDA Swormlure, a synthetic bait designed to attract the flies with a scent that mimics open flesh wounds, which are critical to the lifecycle of the #fly, called the #NewWorldScrewworm.
https://arstechnica.com/health/2025/08/texas-prepares-for-war-as-invasion-of-flesh-eating-flies-appears-imminent/
Texas prepares for war as invasion of flesh-eating flies appears imminent

In Colombia, the parasites were caught expanding into endangered wild mountain tapirs.

Ars Technica
“They’re Melting Living Flesh in Hours”: Scientists Horrified as Swarm of Flesh-Eating Flies Begins Rapid Takeover of U.S. - Sustainability Times

IN A NUTSHELL 🐜 New World screwworm resurgence threatens livestock and human health in North and Central America. 🌡️ Possible causes include higher temperatures and flies adapting their behavior to avoid sterile males. 🚜 Eradication efforts focus on sterile insect technique and enhanced surveillance with international cooperation. 🌍 Climate change complicates eradication plans, underscoring the

Sustainability Times

"The surprise discovery of flesh-eating #ulcers hundreds of kilometres from existing case clusters has sparked concerns it has become entrenched in another state.

Buruli ulcer has been known to occur in #Australia since the 1940s with cases noted in the #NorthernTerritory and #Queensland’s far north.

Researchers are intrigued by a surge in #Victoria, where a case is reported nearly every day, and its emergence in a southern #NSW coastal town."

#endemic
#fleshEating

https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/life/health/2024/12/18/buruli-ulcer-batemans-bay

Are Flesh-Eating Bacteria Hurricane’s Helene’s Parting Gift?

If hurricanes weren’t bringing enough misery, Florida’s warm, brackish waters are serving up “flesh-eating” bacteria. When storm surge meets seawater teeming with bacteria, disaster seems to breed, more disaster.

American Council on Science and Health

#Flesheating #bacterium cases hit record high in #Japan https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/2808935/-flesh-eating-bacterium-cases-hit-record-high-in-japan

KYODO - #Streptococcal toxic #shock #syndrome, a potentially deadly disease caused by a "flesh-eating" bacterium, is spreading rapidly in Japan, with cases in the first half of this year already surpassing last year's record, a national infectious disease institute said Tuesday.

‘Flesh-eating’ bacterium cases hit record high in Japan

KYODO - Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, a potentially deadly disease caused by a

https://www.bangkokpost.com
Clumps of 5,000-mile seaweed blob bring flesh-eating bacteria to Florida

Decomposing pieces of Great Atlantic sargassum belt carry Vibrio bacteria on state’s shoreline

The Guardian

#Vibrio Colonization Is Highly Dynamic in Early #Microplastic-Associated #Biofilms as Well as on Field-Collected #Microplastics

by Katharina Keys, et al, December 2020

Abstract:

"Microplastics are ubiquitous in aquatic ecosystems and provide a habitat for biofilm-forming bacteria. The genus Vibrio, which includes potential #pathogens, was detected irregularly on microplastics. Since then, the potential of microplastics to enrich (and serve as a vector for) Vibrio has been widely discussed. We investigated Vibrio abundance and operational taxonomic unit (OTU) composition on polyethylene and polystyrene within the first 10 h of colonization during an in situ incubation experiment, along with those found on particles collected from the Baltic Sea. We used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and co-occurrence networks to elaborate the role of Vibrio within biofilms. Colonization of plastics with Vibrio was detectable after one hour of incubation; however, Vibrio numbers and composition were very dynamic, with a more stable population at the site with highest nutrients and lowest salinity. Likewise, Vibrio abundances on field-collected particles were variable but correlated with proximity to major cities. Vibrio was poorly connected within biofilm networks. Taken together, this indicates that Vibrio is an early colonizer of plastics, but that the process is undirected and independent of the specific surface. Still, higher nutrients could enhance a faster establishment of Vibrio populations. These parameters should be considered when planning studies investigating Vibrio on microplastics."

#NecrotisingFasciitis #FleshEating #bacteria #plastics #oceans #environment #pollution #seaweed #FleshEating #PublicHealth #wildlife #sea #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #Extinction #Oceans #Pollution

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33396691/

Vibrio Colonization Is Highly Dynamic in Early Microplastic-Associated Biofilms as Well as on Field-Collected Microplastics - PubMed

Microplastics are ubiquitous in aquatic ecosystems and provide a habitat for biofilm-forming bacteria. The genus <i>Vibrio</i>, which includes potential pathogens, was detected irregularly on microplastics. Since then, the potential of microplastics to enrich (and serve as a vector for) <i>Vibrio</i> …

PubMed