Human cases of New World screwworm in the U.S. are nothing new, according to NCBA

“We as NCBA, we’re not shocked to see that there is a human case.”

U.S. health officials reiterated what Deputy Secretary Vaden said at the Farm Progress Show when it comes to New World screwworm and the recent human case.

The patient would be fine because he or she was treated right away.

NCBA says that this case is not the first of its kind in recent years.

According to CEO Colin Woodall, “There was a human case in the United States last year in 2024. There was one in 2023. We also know of one that happened in 2014, and all of them were very similar. These were individuals who traveled to a country that had New World screwworm, brought the larvae back with them, and then, when the pain got unbearable, went to seek treatment, and the CDC was engaged. It was identified, and those larvae were destroyed. So, we as NCBA, we’re not shocked to see that there is a human case.”

Woodall says that all the protocols in place worked as designed, limiting the overall risk.
To date, no U.S. livestock have been confirmed with New World screwworm since the last outbreak began outside American borders.

Related Stories
An import lag for ground beef will likely look different than last year’s egg shortage. The difference comes down to biosecurity and market flexibility.
Texas A&M livestock economist Dr. David Anderson joins Tony St. James to discuss the geopolitical tensions and U.S.-Mexico border closure that are leading to sharp swings in the cattle market.
Expect firm calf and fed-cattle prices — pair selective heifer retention with prudent hedging and liquidity to bridge rebuilding costs.
Peel says Mexico has a much greater capability to expand its beef industry than it did 20 or 30 years ago in terms of its feeding and packing infrastructure.
“USDA can no longer keep wasting its time and personnel to deploy Commissioner Miller’s infamous traps, which USDA has deployed, tested, and has proven ineffective.”
“Good flies? Is that like a good fire ant?” Miller said. “I don’t know what a good fly is. I don’t know if they’re afraid to kill house flies or stable flies, but I’m ready to kill the screwworm fly.”
Large animal veterinarian Dr. Rosalyn Biggs with Oklahoma State University warns producers may not be prepared for the real threat of New World Screwworm.
Mexico’s tougher, two-step treatment and added checkpoints are catching cases before they can spread—good news for producers near the border.