New World Screwworm Outbreak Sparks Pet Health Guidance and Narco Ranching Alerts in U.S. Agriculture

The 2024 re‑emergence of the New World screwworm parasite has prompted animal‑health officials to reassure pet owners that the risk to most pets remains low, while urging vigilance for wound infections. Ellen Hart, DVM, vice president of regulatory and international affairs at the Animal Health Institute, advises regular checks of cuts, bites and other wounds, and recommends using veterinary‑prescribed parasiticides as directed. The U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) emphasizes preventive measures for both pets and livestock.

The outbreak also highlighted vulnerabilities in the cattle industry, as organized crime groups exploit livestock operations for money laundering, contraband trafficking and land seizure – a practice known as narco ranching. Experts such as Lora Bledsoe, DVM and policy adviser at the Department of Homeland Security, and former Border Patrol agent Ammon Blair, now a senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, warn that the disease risk amplifies national‑security concerns by disrupting supply chains and food security. U.S. Department of Agriculture officials are consulting on measures to combat the criminal exploitation of agriculture linked to the screwworm spread.