Fly That Embeds Larvae Into Flesh Could Invade Texas

One thing that the Texas Panhandle economy thrives on the cattle industry. It's a massively important part of how people survive in the area, but there are concerns about the livestock not surviving at the moment.

A parasitic fly is currently moving closer to the southern border of Texas that can be devastating for livestock. In fact, concerns are so high that the U.S. has already suspended live animal imports from Mexico.

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What Is The Fly They're Worried About

The fly is called a screwworm, and it can affect both animals, and humans. How it affects both is absolutely devastating and would severely hurt the livestock industry.

A screwworm will embed its larvae into the living flesh of animals and humans and can kill either by doing so.

Where In Texas Are They Most Concerned

Right now, the main concern is south Texas, so it wouldn't affect the Texas Panhandle right away, however, they could always continue to travel north and find their way here.

According to Tracy Tomascik, the Texas Farm Bureau associate director of Commodity and Regulatory Activities, chances of an outbreak occurring and spreading beyond south Texas are "pretty high".

Read More: Are Locally Owned Chickens In Amarillo Producing Safer Eggs?

When Was The Last Time An Outbreak Happened With Screwworm

It was back in the 1950's that an outbreak of this magnitude hit, and it absolutely crushed the industry. According to the Amarillo Globe-News, it took decades to recover along with billions of dollars and a significant international effort to get the worms out of the United States.

If the worm finds its way back into the U.S., it could drive prices of meat up significantly. Think about how high eggs went when the avian flu hit recently. Meat prices could soar at the same rate eggs did.