Experts say feral hogs could carry the parasite into remote areas where infestations would be much more difficult to detect and stop
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NEED TO KNOW
- New World screwworm cases in Texas have been confirmed in livestock and at least one dog, raising concerns about the spread of invasive insects
- Feral hogs are a major concern due to their wide-ranging movements and potential to spread the screwworm undetected
- Officials are using sterile fly releases and monitoring efforts to combat the outbreak and prevent further spread
The 2026 arrival of the New World screwworm in the United States has animal health officials keeping a close eye not only on livestock but also on wildlife that could quickly spread the destructive parasitic fly.
According to The Oklahoman, Texas has confirmed more than 30 cases of New World screwworm involving cattle, goats, sheep and one dog. While officials say the parasite is unlikely to reach Oklahoma this year naturally, an invasive species of feral hogs has emerged as a particular concern.
“So far, the state of Texas has not found any (screwworm) in wildlife. Obviously, it’s much more difficult to monitor wildlife than it is domestic animals,” Oklahoma State veterinarian Dr. Rod Hall told the outlet.
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New World screwworm is the larval stage of the fly Cochliomyia hominivorax. Unlike most maggots, which feed on dead tissue, screwworm larvae burrow into the living flesh of warm-blooded animals, causing painful wounds that continue to grow unless treated.
According to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, infestations can lead to severe tissue damage, secondary infections and death if left untreated.
Although the parasite poses no food safety risk, outbreaks can have devastating economic consequences for livestock producers because infected animals often require extensive veterinary treatment and may die from complications.
Hall stated that officials are working with hunters, wildlife rehabilitators and operators of commercial hunting facilities to watch for signs the parasite is spreading beyond livestock.
According to officials, feral hogs present a unique challenge because they are difficult to monitor and can move across large areas without human oversight.
Research published in the journal Veterinary Parasitology found that feral swine could play an important role in spreading New World screwworm. The study, which examined infestations in Uruguay, found that male hogs frequently developed infestations from injuries sustained while fighting. Researchers noted that the animals’ wide-ranging movements could allow the parasite to spread into new areas.
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Hall said the greatest immediate risk to Oklahoma would likely come from people illegally transporting feral hogs across state lines.
“The way we’ll get it early on in feral swine is if there’s illegal movement of feral swine,” said Hall. “It’s a felony to bring feral swine into Oklahoma from any state, but people break the law all the time.”
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He continued, “If we did get it in Oklahoma and if it did get in our wildlife, then it would be much more difficult to control because we obviously can’t treat them; we can’t give them medication to prevent the screwworm eggs from hatching.”
Federal and state officials continue to combat the outbreak using a decades-old eradication strategy that helped eliminate New World screwworm from the United States in the 1960s. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is restricting livestock movement in affected areas and releasing millions of sterile male flies. Because female screwworm flies mate only once, breeding with sterile males prevents viable offspring from being produced, gradually collapsing wild populations.
The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture is urging ranchers, veterinarians, hunters and members of the public to report any animals with unusual wounds that contain maggots or signs of screwworm infestation as surveillance efforts continue.
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