USDA Remains Vigilant After Human Case Of NWS Detected

A traveler associated case of New World Screwworm detected in the United States earlier this week put many, primarily the livestock sector, on edge.

“Believe it or not, we have had human cases in the past, including in the past five years," noted Agriculture Department Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden.  "Unfortunately, this happens at times where people go to regions of the Western Hemisphere where the fly is endemic. It's bad for that particular human, although it's easily treatable with modern medicine.”

With USDA among federal partners responding.  Agriculture Department role this week included at additional surveillance within a 20 mile radius of the affected area, covering Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia with trap results to date negative for NWS.

The deputy secretary adds no detections of New World Screwworm involving U.S. livestock have been reported.  This as prevention and eradication efforts between the U.S. and Mexico continue.

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