New World Screwworm On an Open Wound
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.
Related
Rapid Genetic Testing to Identify New World Screwworm
Early detection and rapid response are critical to controlling the spread of New World Screwworm, a blowfly pest that has re-emerged in the U.S. As the USDA leads the federal response, USGS Ecosystems Mission Area scientists are developing and validating a rapid DNA field test that can be used onsite with simple materials and basic training to support surveillance and response efforts.
Responding to 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 and response for New World screwworm (NWS), a foreign animal disease detected in the U.S. in June 2026 after its northward spread from Central America.
Related
Rapid Genetic Testing to Identify New World Screwworm
Early detection and rapid response are critical to controlling the spread of New World Screwworm, a blowfly pest that has re-emerged in the U.S. As the USDA leads the federal response, USGS Ecosystems Mission Area scientists are developing and validating a rapid DNA field test that can be used onsite with simple materials and basic training to support surveillance and response efforts.
Responding to 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 and response for New World screwworm (NWS), a foreign animal disease detected in the U.S. in June 2026 after its northward spread from Central America.