06/12/2026
🐾 Informational Friday: New World Screwworm Awareness 🪰
The New World Screwworm is a serious pest that can affect pets, livestock, wildlife, and other warm-blooded animals. Unlike common maggots that feed on dead tissue, screwworm larvae feed on living tissue, causing painful and potentially life-threatening wounds if left untreated.
⚠️ Signs to Watch For:
• Open wounds that won't heal
• Excessive licking, scratching, or irritation
• Foul-smelling wounds
• Swelling or discharge around a wound
• Visible maggots in a wound
• Loss of appetite, lethargy, or discomfort
🩺 How to Help Protect Your Pets:
• Check your pets regularly for cuts, scrapes, and skin injuries.
• Keep wounds clean and seek veterinary care promptly.
• Watch for signs of infection or unusual wound healing.
• Maintain regular grooming, especially during fly season.
• Report suspected cases to a veterinarian immediately.
❗ We are not licensed veterinarians. If you suspect your pet may have a screwworm infestation or any wound-related concern, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.
📚 Resources for More Information:
• Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
https://www.dshs.texas.gov/notifiable-conditions/zoonosis-control/zoonosis-control-diseases-and-conditions/new-world-screwworm
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
https://www.cdc.gov/new-world-screwworm/about/index.html
• Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC)
https://www.tahc.texas.gov/emergency/nws.html
• Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD)
https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/diseases/screwworm/
• USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animals/animal-health/livestock-and-poultry-disease/stop-screwworm
• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/new-world-screwworm
🐾🪰
