New World screwworm updates

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Customs recently teamed up to help fight the New World screwworm using drones.  Officials say they will be using heat-sensing drones to detect infected animals on the border as well as track cartel smugglers who have been known to bring cattle illegally across the border.

Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration has granted emergency use authorization for more medications that can prevent and treat infestations of the NW screwworm.  Now, pets found with a burrowing screwworm have a few medication options.  As of Thursday, the FDA gave Simparica TRIO the green light as a treatment option.  The medication is usually used to treat heartworms, fleas and ticks.  In this case, it would only be used to treat existing New Worls screwworm infestations – not prevent them.

Nitenpyram was given emergency use authorization in June to fight screwworm in dogs and cats.  The FDA has also authorized a preventative spray that can be used on cows, sheep, goats, pigs and other large animals.

The number of cases has grown to 45, all in Texas and New Mexico.  Signs of a New World screwworm infection include:

~Feeling or seeing maggots move in a skin wound or sore, or in the eyes, ears, nose and mouth

~Skin wounds that worsen

~Foul odor from the wound

~Bleeding open sores

If you suspect an infestation, you should talk to your veterinarian about treatment options.  Veterinarians may also need to manually remove live or dead larvae from the infected wound.  The FDA said that most pet owners don’t need to be alarmed.  Those who live in or travel to the area where the parasite is most active should keep an eye on their pets for signs of screwworm infestations.