Jun 29, 2026
The New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite that did hundreds of millions of dollars of damage across Texas in in the 1960s and ’70s, had been considered eradicated from the U.S. for decades. However, it has returned and poses a serious threat to cattle, wildlife and pets. Because it could move into Kansas, plans have been developed to control its spread. Kansas State University veterinary entomologist, Dr. Cassandra Olds, and Assistant Animal Health Commissioner for the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Dr. Sara McReynolds, participated in a webinar to discuss the history of the New World screwworm and the state’s response to this latest outbreak.