North Carolina Prepares for Potential Screwworm Invasion Threatening Livestock
Flesh-eating screwworms spreading near the U.S. border could devastate North Carolina’s livestock industry and drive beef prices even higher.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA — North Carolina agricultural officials are joining federal and state authorities across the South in preparing for a potential invasion of flesh-eating New World screwworms that could devastate livestock markets and drive meat prices even higher.
The parasitic fly has been spreading across Mexico and Central America, with multiple cases now reported within 100 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. While the pest has not yet crossed into the United States, officials warn that an invasion could severely impact North Carolina’s $3.2 billion livestock industry.
The New World screwworm was previously eradicated from the United States in the 1960s through an intensive federal program. The flies can infest livestock, pets, wildlife and in rare cases, humans. The parasites derive their name from their larvae, which burrow into living flesh in a screw-like motion, causing severe tissue damage and sometimes death.
Federal Response Underway
The federal government has already banned imports of live cattle from Mexico in response to the threat, further compounding existing shortages in domestic beef supplies. State and federal officials have also implemented new monitoring, testing and quarantine protocols to prevent the screwworm’s entry into U.S. territory.
The response includes a $750 million federal facility designed to produce millions of sterile flies as part of an eradication strategy. The sterile fly technique involves releasing laboratory-raised sterile male flies to mate with wild females, ultimately reducing the pest population over time.
“It’s going to be very challenging, I think, at this point to keep it out of the United States,” said Dr. Samantha Holeck, state veterinarian with the New Mexico Livestock Board, which regulates the livestock industry.
Economic Impact on Meat Prices
The screwworm threat comes as beef prices have already reached record highs across the nation. Federal data shows the average price of ground beef reached $6.90 per pound this month, representing a 77% increase since January 2020, when ground beef cost $3.89 per pound, according to Yahoo Finance.
Years of drought, increased operating costs and supply chain disruptions have forced ranchers to liquidate their herds to the smallest level in 75 years, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. Despite the reduced supply, consumer demand for beef remains strong, contributing to the sustained high prices.
The import ban on Mexican cattle has intensified these market pressures, as U.S. feedlots typically rely on Mexican feeder cattle to supplement domestic supplies. Agricultural economists warn that a screwworm invasion could force additional livestock restrictions and quarantines that would further tighten beef supplies.
Preparing for Prevention
North Carolina’s Department of Agriculture has been coordinating with federal agencies to develop response protocols should the screwworm cross the border. The state’s livestock industry includes significant cattle, hog and poultry operations that could be vulnerable to infestation.
Veterinary officials emphasize the importance of early detection and reporting of any suspicious livestock wounds or infestations. The screwworm larvae typically infest open wounds on animals, making livestock with recent injuries, surgical sites or birthing complications particularly susceptible.
State agriculture officials are urging livestock producers to maintain heightened awareness and report any unusual animal health issues immediately. Quick identification and response will be critical to preventing establishment and spread of the parasite should it reach North Carolina.
