USDA says Texas screwworm cases do not threaten food supply

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the recent screwworm cases detected in Texas do not put the food supply at risk. She said the parasite can be treated and that federal officials are moving quickly to contain it. The USDA confirmed two additional cases on Monday, bringing the total in the U.S. to four. The new detections include a calf in La Salle County and a dog case tied to New Mexico. Officials in New Mexico plan to step up monitoring and outreach in the affected area. The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae can burrow into wounds in warmblooded animals, creating serious health risks for livestock, wildlife, pets, and occasionally people. The U.S. has not seen cases since the 1960s, and authorities say they are using a longstanding control strategy that includes releasing sterile flies to reduce the pest population.