# Flesh-eating parasite arrives in U.S.; Nebraska poised to respond  
**Published:** 2026-06-12T09:30:04.000Z  
**Source:** [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/12/repub/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-flesh-eating-new-world-screwworm/)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/flesh-eating-parasite-arrives-in-u-s-nebraska-poised-to-respond

[The New World screwworm has arrived in the United States](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/12/repub/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-flesh-eating-new-world-screwworm/) for the first time since 1966, confirming fears that have animated livestock producers and agricultural officials across the nation for years.

Federal officials have confirmed six cases of the destructive New World screwworm in cattle and goats across four Texas counties, plus one reclassified case in New Mexico. The first case was confirmed on June 3, 2026, in a calf in Zavala County, Texas.

While screwworm has not been detected in Nebraska, agricultural leaders in the state are preparing for a potential threat. University of Nebraska experts are working with partners including the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, the Nebraska Cattlemen and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to stay informed and support ongoing efforts to monitor the pest, with the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources prepared to support efforts to detect and understand New World screwworm in Nebraska.

The parasitic fly poses a significant economic threat to the nation's cattle industry. The pest can threaten the livelihood of livestock producers and cause millions of dollars' worth of production losses and economic damage. The grain farmer in Kansas or Nebraska faces potential impacts as a reduction in cattle numbers means a reduction in demand for grain.

Despite its name, the screwworm grows into an adult fly resembling a common housefly with distinctive orange eyes and a metallic blue or green body. Infested animals become depressed, stop eating, and may isolate themselves from other animals or people, and without treatment, animals may die within a week of being infested.

Federal officials are implementing a multifaceted response strategy. The USDA has activated the sterile fly dispersal facility at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas, with sterile pupae arriving on Friday and aerial dispersal flights beginning the following day. USDA is investing heavily in new and existing sterile fly infrastructure to ramp up production and expand domestic response capacity, with investments aimed at producing approximately 500 million sterile flies per week.

Agricultural leaders have expressed cautious optimism about the response. Nebraska Cattlemen President Craig Uden noted that coordination between state and federal agencies has improved significantly, saying it has been well prepared for, and the U.S. beef supply is safe. The Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Lab at UNL is coordinating with the USDA and other partners to provide diagnostic support.

Ranchers are urged to monitor livestock daily for signs of infestation, including foul-smelling wounds with visible maggots and lesions in navels or ears. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture asks producers to notify the state at 402-471-2351 or the local USDA office at 402-434-2300 if they suspect screwworm in Nebraska.

## Sources

- [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/12/repub/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-flesh-eating-new-world-screwworm/)
- [Nebraska Department of Agriculture New World Screwworm page](https://nda.nebraska.gov/animal/diseases/nws)
- [UNL IANR News: Experts monitoring New World screwworm](https://ianrnews.unl.edu/article/unl-experts-monitoring-new-world-screwworm-following-texas-detection)
- [Nebraska Public Media: Nebraska Cattlemen president discusses screwworm threat](https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/the-us-beef-supply-is-safe-nebraska-cattlemen-president-discusses-new-world-screwworm-threat/)
- [USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service screwworm updates](https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animals/animal-health/livestock-and-poultry-disease/stop-screwworm)
- [Texas Animal Health Commission New World Screwworm information](https://www.tahc.texas.gov/emergency/nws.html)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Nebraska Examiner, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/12/repub/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-flesh-eating-new-world-screwworm/.