Texas rancher reacts to more New World screwworm cases

The number of New World screwworm cases has risen to 15 in the southern United States with more animals testing positive in Texas over the weekend.  

New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae eats warm-blooded animals alive and can infect livestock, pets, and wildlife. The larvae burrow into living tissue of animals and cause severe wounds that can become fatal.  

The news is not totally bleak, according to Texas rancher John Malazzo, who knows the owners of one of the infected calves.  

“I talked to the owner yesterday and that calf is totally healthy and recovered and has been turned back out,” Malazzo said. “So this is not a, if you get a screwworm case, it doesn’t mean it’s a mortal situation. You can treat them and they will recover.”