Here’s what Kansas pet owners should know about risk of New World screwworm

As much of the information about New World screwworms has been geared toward livestock producers, a Kansas agency wants pet owners to know they should also be aware of the risk.

Six cases of New world screwworm, a flesh-eating invasive parasite, have been reported in the U.S. since June 3. All cases are in Texas and New Mexico, according to a June 9 news release from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Prior to these reports, the New world screwworm was eradicated from the country in 1966 with only a brief reemergence in 2016.

The invasive pest “affects livestock, pets, wildlife, and, less commonly, people and birds,” health officials say. New World screwworm flies lay their eggs in open wounds, then their larvae eat the animal’s living flesh. This is unlike other maggots that only eat dead tissue.

This can be fatal to animals if not treated quickly, threatening livestock herds and ranchers.

While no cases have been reported in Kansas, animal health commissioner Justin Smith said the state has been preparing for the possible return of the New World screwworm for over a year.

“We have confidence in the response plan that is in place,” he said.

Cassandra Olds, K-State Extension livestock entomologist, said Kansans should not panic.

“We are just as safe as we were three weeks ago,” she said in a June 8 news release.

What pet owners should know about New World screwworm

Kansas pet owners should “remain vigilant,” alongside veterinarians and livestock producers, according to K-State Extension.

“We’re trying to emphasize that any warm-blooded animal with an open wound would be a possible host for this pest,” Heather Lansdowne, a spokesperson for the Kansas Department of Agriculture, said in a news release. “A lot of the information coming from USDA is referring to cattle or livestock, but we’re trying to include the reference to pets as much as possible.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said June 11 that most cats and dogs in the U.S. are at low risk of an infestation, but the risk is elevated for pets who have been in Texas or New Mexico.

To protect your pets, the KDA said you should keep open wounds cleaned and covered, and you should check your pets and vehicles for screwworm flies when traveling to an infected area. You should also monitor your animals for signs of an infestation.

Animals infested with their larvae may start showing signs of pain.

“Often we’ll see that animals will lick or rub the area because it’s quite painful,” Olds said. “They can often sequester themselves because they feel so miserable. It is incredibly painful.”

Other signs of an infestation include the smell of decaying flesh, head shaking, not eating and wounds infected with maggots.

If you suspect an animal is infected with screwworms, you should consult a veterinarian.

“They must be immediately treated by cleaning the wound and applying a topical pesticide or other medication that is effective against NWS larvae,” the KDA said.

The FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization on June 11 for a generic, over-the-counter drug that can treat New World screwworm infestations in dogs, cats, puppies and kittens that are at least 4 weeks old and more than 2 pounds.

“It puts an affordable, fast-acting treatment in the hands of pet owners, strengthens our containment strategy, and helps stop this destructive parasite from spreading further in the United States,” U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said in a news release.