By Jeff Diamond
A parasitic fly known as the New World Screwworm (screwworm), once eradicated from the U.S. about 60 years ago, re-entered the country this summer. It attacks only living, warm-blooded animals. They most frequently infest cows and other livestock and pose a grave economic threat to cattle producers, though they do also attack humans (rarely, but not never). The female will lay hundreds of eggs into any open wound or other orifice. It is not a worm, but it is a screw — and once the eggs hatch, the larvae voraciously twist through and start to devour their host animal. This can go on for over a week, with even bones and internal organs susceptible to its voracious appetite.
Weather conditions in the U.S. today are very different from the 1960s due to manmade climate change. Screwworm flies thrive in hot temperatures, high humidity, and precipitation events. Temperatures in livestock-heavy states are already favorable for screwworm in the summer and have been universally increasing, with warmer temperatures extending into spring and fall. Extreme weather events have become more prevalent. These changes will make the spread of screwworm flies more difficult to contain. Our history with screwworm has been inextricably linked to weather patterns, and it is nearly impossible to deny that our screwworm problem is also a climate risk problem. Unfortunately, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) appears to be committed to minimizing the role of undeniable climate risks, which is going to make it a lot harder to eradicate screwworm this time around.
Climate conditions significantly impact screwworm proliferation
The good news for those of us in the U.S. who feel attached to our skulls is that the screwworm prefers tropical conditions that have historically only been present year-round in South Texas and South Florida.
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