By Driscoll R. Ugarte, Brandon A. Chan, Ph.D., Victoria (Tori) Hawekotte and Taylor Hertzler
The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae burrow into the flesh of warm-blooded animals, feeding on healthy tissue and causing myiasis that is often fatal if left untreated. It can infest livestock, pets, wildlife and, in rare cases, people. Although long eradicated from the United States, it has moved northward through Central America and Mexico in recent years, prompting a sweeping multiagency federal response. This Alert outlines the key regulatory developments and identifies practical steps that livestock producers, animal drug sponsors, veterinarians and supply chain participants should consider now to manage compliance obligations and mitigate risk.