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US Secretary of Agriculture Addresses New World Screwworm in House Ag Committee Hearing

New World screwworm
New World screwworm (NWS, Cochliomyia hominivorax) is a devastating pest. When NWS fly larvae (maggots) burrow into the flesh of a living animal, they cause serious, often deadly damage to the animal. NWS can infest livestock, pets, wildlife, occasionally birds, and in rare cases, people.
Courtesy of USDA/APHIS

The US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins addressed the seriousness of the potential devastating impacts of the New World Screwworm to US cattle herds in a legislative hearing last week. During the House Committee on Agriculture hearing last week, Secretary Rollins was asked several times about the impact of the New World Screwworm and the department’s response to the pest. In response to a question by Representative Trent Kelly from Mississippi, Secretary Rollins said,

In a response to a question from Representative Monica DeLaCruz from Texas, Secretary Rollins said,

We expect the announcement on New World Screwworm efforts from the Secretary at some point this week.

Dale Sandlin with Southeast AgNet reporting.

To receive testimony from The Honorable Brooke L. Rollins, Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture