Georgia strengthens livestock rules over rare parasite

by Steven Glover

TATTNALL COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) -Georgia agriculture officials are tightening import rules for livestock entering the state after a rare and destructive parasite was recently detected in the Southwest.

Following a confirmed case of New World screwworm in New Mexico, the Georgia Department of Agriculture announced enhanced animal health requirements to protect the state’s multi-billion-dollar livestock industry. Under the updated protocols, all warm-blooded animals traveling from affected regions in Texas and New Mexico must obtain entry permits and undergo veterinary inspections within seven days of travel before entering Georgia.

While cases in the United States remain extremely rare, state officials and local cattle producers are not taking any chances.

“It’s not something to be worried about,” Chatel Farms Manager Colin Matthews said. “We’re vigilant, but we’re not worried about it.”

At Chatel Farms, a cow-calf and cattle-finishing operation in Reidsville, Matthews said workers have already reviewed health protocols to ensure their herd stays safe.

“Well, our staff, we’ve gone through the protocols. We’ve revamped everybody on procedures,” Matthews said. “Told them what to be looking out for and, like I said, these cattle are checked twice a day so we’re confident that we’re not going to have any issues.”

What is New World Screwworm?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New World screwworms are the larvae of blowflies that lay eggs in open wounds or mucous membranes of warm-blooded animals.

Unlike common maggots that feed strictly on decaying tissue, screwworm larvae burrow into living flesh. The infestation—known clinically as myiasis—can cause severe tissue damage, secondary bacterial infections, and death within days if left untreated.

The United States successfully eradicated screwworms in 1966 using the sterile insect technique, which involved releasing millions of sterile male flies into the wild to stop reproduction. Since then, the parasite has been largely kept at bay south of the Panama-Colombia border through international barrier programs, though isolated detections in traveling animals occasionally emerge.

Local Producers Confident in Safeguards

Matthews noted that modern livestock management provides cattle operations with stronger defenses than previous generations had.

“We’ve come a long way; technology has come a long way,” Matthews said. “We got more tools in our toolbox to take care of any problems that arise.”

Cattle on the farm are treated with medicated ear tags and topical fly controls. Matthews added that the arrival of cooler fall temperatures also helps naturally suppress the regional fly population.

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper confirmed the parasite poses no risk to the commercial food supply, reiterating that consumers can remain confident that American and Georgia-grown beef is healthy and safe.