US Agriculture Dept confirms first detection of New World screwworm in US wildlife

WASHINGTON, Oct 21 (Reuters) – The US Department of Agriculture said on Wednesday it has confirmed the first detection of flesh-eating parasite New World screwworm in US wildlife in an elk in Pecos County, Texas.

• The elk was located on a game ranch and was reported after being harvested by a hunter, the USDA said in a statement.

• The Texas Animal Health Commission will modify a previously established infested zone, and the USDA and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department are conducting additional wildlife surveillance in the area, the USDA said.

• Eradicated from the US decades ago, the pest has surged north from Central America through Mexico, prompting Washington to impose a more than year-long ban on Mexican cattle imports.

• The US halted livestock imports from Mexico last year to keep out screwworm but resumed trade in August at an Arizona port as part of a phased reopening plan.

• The halt helped tighten US cattle supplies and push beef prices to record highs for American consumers.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis)