Federal agencies conducted a first-of-its-kind exercise this month to prepare for a potential outbreak of a flesh-eating parasite that poses a serious threat to both humans and livestock, officials announced Jan. 30.
The Department of Homeland Security, working alongside the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Department of the Interior, conducted a two-part simulation focused on the New World screwworm — a parasite capable of devastating the U.S. food supply if it reaches domestic livestock.
More than 250 federal, state, local, and tribal officials participated in the exercise, including 80 in person and over 170 virtually. The simulation tested government response under three possible outbreak scenarios: illegal cattle smuggling, wildlife transmission, and human infection through an open wound.
The New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) infests warm-blooded animals by laying eggs in open wounds. The larvae feed on living tissue, causing severe injury and significant economic damage if livestock populations are affected.
“Food security is national security,” said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. “A country that cannot feed itself and provide for itself cannot defend itself. We need to protect America’s food supply to protect the American homeland.”
Officials said the exercise was the first of its kind designed specifically to test interagency coordination for a domestic screwworm incursion.
“This is the first exercise of its kind,” said Dr. Sean Conley, Acting DHS Chief Medical Officer and Acting Director of the Office of Health Security. “The sessions provided participants with a shared operational baseline and an opportunity to test coordination and identify decision points critical to an effective government response.”
USDA officials warned that the parasite presents an unusually broad threat, as it can infest livestock, wildlife, birds, and humans.
“Because New World screwworm can affect any warm-blooded animal, as well as birds and people, a coordinated federal, state, and local response is critical,” said Rear Adm. Michael Schmoyer, Associate Administrator for USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Director of the New World Screwworm Directorate.
The Department of the Interior also cited risks to native wildlife populations.
“A New World screwworm incursion threatens our native species as well as livestock,” said Dr. Jenifer Chatfield, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. “We welcome the opportunity to engage in preparedness activities with our partners at USDA and DHS.”
The exercise comes as Texas officials ramp up preparations for a possible screwworm invasion from Mexico. As The Dallas Express previously reported, Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration earlier this week to mobilize state resources as the parasite advances north toward the Texas border.
