Ames, Iowa – The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) will host a webinar, “New World Screwworm: A One-Health Perspective,” on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. CST, addressing a parasite outbreak that has spread from Panama through Central America and reached Mexico—now 370 miles from the U.S. border.
The webinar is a collaborative effort with the Animal Health Institute (AHI), the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), and the National Pork Board.
The New World Screwworm breakthrough represents the first major threat to U.S. livestock since the USDA eradicated the parasite in 1966. A 1976 outbreak in Texas caused $732 million in losses to livestock producers and $1.8 billion to the state’s economy (in 2024 dollars). APHIS estimates its barrier programs have saved the U.S. cattle industry $2.3 billion annually. The parasite infests wounds in warm-blooded animals, including livestock, wildlife, pets, and humans. Left untreated, affected animals may die within 1-2 weeks.
After maintaining Panama’s Darien Gap barrier for decades, screwworm breached containment in 2021. Cases in Panama surged from around 25 in 2023 to more than 6,500, spreading north through Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, and El Salvador. In July 2025, Mexico confirmed a case in Veracruz, 370 miles south of the U.S. border. USDA allocated $165 million in emergency funding in December 2024 and is dispersing 100 million sterile insects per week in Mexico.
A One Health Perspective
The webinar demonstrates the One Health approach in action, featuring experts from animal health, public health, and agricultural sectors. Participants will learn how farmers, ranchers, pet owners, veterinarians, and regulators must work together to protect animals and the industry.
Featured Speakers:
- Phil Kaufman, Ph.D. – Texas A&M University (Introduction)
- Julia Herman – National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (Moderator)
- Megin Nichols – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Lynne Acebey, D.V.M. – American Veterinary Medical Association
- Michael Schmoyer – USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
The program will cover:
- Current medication approaches, including medicines with larvicidal activity, systemic anti-parasite drugs, and antibacterial/anti-
inflammatory drugs - Integrated prevention strategies: wound care, surveillance, insect/pesticide control, and sterile insect technologies
- Regulatory tools for rapid emergency response: Conditional Approval, Emergency Use Authorization, and Emergency Exemptions
- Protocols for importation of cattle, bison, and horses into the United States from countries where screwworm is present
- Species-specific systemic medication with larvicidal activity for pets
- Quarantine and treatment requirements for infested animals
Who Should Attend:
This webinar is essential for livestock producers, veterinarians, animal health professionals, pet owners in affected regions, regulatory officials, and anyone involved in animal agriculture or animal health policy.
Registration: https://streamyard.com/watch/
