Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

New World Screwworm On an Open Wound

By National Wildlife Health Center
A dead deer lays on the ground with a large open wound on it's neck infested with New World screwworm larvae
Original Thumbnail Medium

Detailed Description

New World Screwworm is a fly (Cochliomyia hominivorax) that lays eggs in open wounds of warm-blooded animals. Once hatched, the larvae (maggots) consume the living tissues at the edge of the wound, leading to severe illness and death if left untreated. 

Sources/Usage

Public Domain.

Credit: CDC

https://www.cdc.gov/new-world-screwworm/media/images/2025/08/deer-neck.png

 

Related

A small transluscent worm with markings that resemble a screw

Preparing for Potential Emergence of New World Screwworm in the U.S.

The USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) is supporting the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) preparedness planning for New World screwworm (NWS), a re-emerging parasitic disease that is spreading north from Central America.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, National Wildlife Health Center
Preparing for Potential Emergence of New World Screwworm in the U.S.

Preparing for Potential Emergence of New World Screwworm in the U.S.

The USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) is supporting the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) preparedness planning for New World screwworm (NWS), a re-emerging parasitic disease that is spreading north from Central America.
Learn More

Related

A small transluscent worm with markings that resemble a screw

Preparing for Potential Emergence of New World Screwworm in the U.S.

The USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) is supporting the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) preparedness planning for New World screwworm (NWS), a re-emerging parasitic disease that is spreading north from Central America.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, National Wildlife Health Center
Preparing for Potential Emergence of New World Screwworm in the U.S.

Preparing for Potential Emergence of New World Screwworm in the U.S.

The USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) is supporting the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) preparedness planning for New World screwworm (NWS), a re-emerging parasitic disease that is spreading north from Central America.
Learn More
Was this page helpful?