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New World Screwworm Confirmed in Arizona Dog, USDA Says
On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed Arizona's first New World screwworm case in a dog in Cochise County, marking the parasite's spread into a third U.S. state.
Since June, 71 cases have been reported across the United States, with 18 currently active; the parasitic fly advanced north from South America through Texas and New Mexico before reaching Arizona.
Federal and state officials are responding by establishing a 20-kilometer infested zone around the detection site, while the Arizona Department of Agriculture and USDA increase surveillance and release sterile flies to suppress the population.
State Veterinarian Dr. Ryan Wolker said, "We have been preparing for this possibility for a long while and are acting swiftly," as officials urge pet owners to check animals daily for wounds or maggots.
Plans for a Sterile Fly Dispersal Facility in Douglas, Arizona, continue to move forward as the USDA recently resumed livestock imports from Mexico at three ports of entry in Arizona and New Mexico.