09/24/2025
This post is primarily directed to those lucky individuals / clients that are fortunate to be traveling to more hospitable climates for the winter months (Especially Southern Texas, but also New Mexico and Arizona). If you are in this blessed snowbirding group there are a few items of interest / advisement to know and remember.
First, do not forget to maintain flea, tick, and heart worm prevention during these months. If you don't have veterinary care set-up at your winter locale, then make sure that you bring the needed dosages to carry you through so as to avoid unnecessary veterinary visits.
Second, and on a more ominous note, I and many other USDA veterinarians received a notice a few days ago concerning the spread of a fly transmitted parasitic condition called New World Screwworm (NWS). This is a condition, called myiasis (maggot infestation), is an infestation of open wounds by fly larvae that feed on healthy tissue (flesh eating). This condition was eradicated from the US in the early 1960's but has remained endemic in portions of South America and a few isolated areas of the Caribbean islands. It has the potential of causing devastating effects to our cattle industry both in losses and economically. However, the other concern is the potential spread via human and pet traveling. A case of NWS was found at a feedlot in northern Mexico about 70 miles from the Texas-Mexican border. This is a heavily traveled highway that leads to one of our busiest border crossing areas at Laredo Texas. NO CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN THE US as of the time of this posting. The importance of this to our clients is the following. If you or your pet have any open wounds (even as small as a tick bite area), get it treated and covered as these flies can lay eggs on even that small of an area (as many as 300 at a time) and initiate an infestation. There are some recommended repellants for people but most repellants for pets are fairly unsatisfactory and potentially toxic. Bottom line, be aware of any wounds that you or your pet may have, treat them asap, and keep the area monitored and bandaged until completely healed. Because this is a reportable disease concern, if you have any question as to potential exposure and or possible infestation, seek the treatment and guidance of a local veterinarian asap.
