The harsh reality is that you will be seeing more of these New World Screwworm (NWS) confirmations every 24-72 hours for the next few monthsโitโs really tragic
Whatโs more tragic is that that USDA had plenty of time to act in the last 15 months to minimize and even prevent this crisis from unfolding โitโs just where we are
However, we stand by the assertion that there are certain actions the USG could take right now that would minimize impact, and we pray the Administration takes them as soon as possible
So weโre going to stress a few points:
1. The beef that you eat is safe. Period.
โ NWS infests LIVE warm blooded animals, it DOES NOT affect raw or cooked meat
โ best thing you can do right now is find a local producer and support them
2. If you are a pet owner, practice vigilant wound care
โ check regularly for open wounds, doctor them, keep them covered up, especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors
3. If you are a producer, you probably already know this, keep a closer eye on your herd and keep in close contact with your vet
โ we have faith that the ranching community knows their herd better than anyone else, and that they will be extra vigilant monitoring and doctoring during this crisis
โ early detection and treatment is key
โ your vet will have the most updated information and treatment protocols available
4. If you need help, donโt ever hesitate to reach out to us. Weโre not experts, but we can do what we can to inform or point you in the right direction
We love this country deeply and hate to see it suffer, but we believe in the resilience of American people
God bless you all and stay safe out there ๐บ๐ธ
cdc.gov/new-world-screwworm/โฆ