By Jonathan Veit
Following the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recent confirmation of New World Screwworm (NWS) in Texas and New Mexico, Clemson Livestock-Poultry Health (CULPH) and Clemson Department of Pesticide Regulation are encouraging livestock owners, veterinarians and animal health professionals to remain vigilant while emphasizing that South Carolina is actively preparing for the potential threat.
While NWS is currently only detected in the Southwestern U.S., South Carolina preparations include working closely with federal partners, veterinarians, livestock producers and industry stakeholders to ensure the state is prepared should the pest move eastward.
Additionally, Clemson Livetock-Poultry Health has announced that effective immediately, it will enforce additional interstate movement health requirements for warm-blooded animals entering South Carolina from states with reported NWS cases.
“Preparedness is our best defense,” said Mike Neault, South Carolina State Veterinarian and director of Clemson Livestock-Poultry Health. “While South Carolina has no confirmed cases, we are taking proactive steps to ensure producers, veterinarians and animal health professionals have the information, resources and tools they need should New World Screwworm be detected here.”
New World Screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals. Unlike common maggots that feed on dead tissue, screwworm larvae invade living tissue through wounds and other openings, causing severe injury, secondary infections and, if left untreated, death. The pest can affect cattle, horses, sheep, goats, swine, companion animals and wildlife.
South Carolina successfully eliminated New World Screwworm in 1959 after first identifying the pest in the state in 1934. Officials say the same science-based principles that led to eradication decades ago—including surveillance, rapid reporting, animal movement controls, treatment options and the Sterile Insect Technique—would be used again if necessary.
Source : clemson.edu