CDC activates emergency response as screwworm infestations increase in livestock

Article excerpt

The CDC has activated an emergency response to combat the New World screwworm, a parasitic fly that has infested cattle across multiple states after being absent for decades. The Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the escalation following recent discoveries of the pest in livestock herds. Screwworms, which burrow into living flesh and can cause severe infection or death in animals, had been successfully eradicated from the United States but have recently resurfaced, prompting federal health officials to mobilize emergency protocols. The outbreak marks a significant agricultural and public health concern, as screwworms can spread rapidly through livestock populations and pose economic risks to farmers.