DEMING – Luna County is stepping up local surveillance and public education efforts as New World screwworm continues to pose a threat to livestock, pets and wildlife along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Luna County Extension Agent Jack Blandford told DemingNews.com that he attended a statewide New World screwworm training workshop Tuesday, August 25, at New Mexico State University and has been assigned to serve as a local contact in Luna County for suspected cases.
New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae, or maggots, infest wounds and feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals. Unlike many other types of maggots that feed primarily on dead or decaying material, New World screwworm larvae can burrow into living tissue, causing wounds to become progressively larger and potentially leading to serious illness or death if an infestation is not detected and treated.
The threat is particularly important to southern New Mexico because New World screwworm has been detected in northern Mexico, including Chihuahua and Sonora, and cases have also been confirmed in the United States.
Blandford said the movement of people, vehicles and livestock across the international border makes education and early detection especially important for Luna County.
Livestock trade from Mexico into the United States resumed Monday, August 24, through the Douglas, Arizona Port of Entry as part of a phased reopening by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Columbus Port of Entry has not yet reopened to livestock imports, although USDA is considering subsequent reopenings at Columbus and Santa Teresa.
The Columbus-Palomas Port of Entry remains an active international crossing for people and vehicles, making continued awareness important for the border region.
Blandford said Luna County will also participate in increased surveillance efforts along the border. Specialized traps designed to detect New World screwworm flies will be placed in the area, and Blandford said he will service the local traps and collect samples twice each week for identification and testing.
The traps use an attractant and sticky surface to collect flies. They are intended as an early-warning system and are not designed to eliminate screwworm populations.
USDA says more than 100 New World screwworm-specific traps have been deployed in high-risk areas along the southern U.S. border. State and federal partners service the traps twice weekly, collecting flies and refreshing the attractant and sticky material.
Blandford said education and early detection are among the most important tools available to protect Luna County’s ranchers, livestock owners, pet owners and residents.
Animal owners should closely monitor wounds that do not appear to be healing normally. Warning signs can include swelling, an open or enlarging wound, drainage, a strong foul odor and visible maggots or larvae within a wound.
Even relatively small wounds can provide an opportunity for the screwworm fly to lay eggs.
Blandford also cautioned that winters in the region have not consistently produced enough prolonged cold weather to assume that larvae introduced into the area would automatically be eliminated by freezing temperatures.
New Mexico has already dealt with New World screwworm this year. In June, a case was confirmed in a dog that lived in Lea County. The dog recovered, and state officials later classified that case as inactive.
If a suspected case is discovered in Luna County, Blandford said it should be reported immediately. The appropriate state animal health authorities, working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, can then become involved in identification, surveillance and response efforts if necessary.
Blandford emphasized that residents should not wait for a suspected infestation to become severe before reporting it. Early detection can help protect not only an individual animal but livestock, pets and wildlife throughout the area.
Anyone in Luna County who suspects New World screwworm or has questions about identifying the parasite can contact Jack Blandford at the Luna County Extension Office, 210 B Poplar Street in Deming.
By John Krehbiel – Bravo Mic Communications News – John@bravomic.com
