In episode 42, Dr. Blayne Mozisek breaks down everything you need to know about the New World screwworm and why it’s been making headlines lately. He walks through the history of how it devastated the US up until the 1960s, how the sterile insect technique was developed and proven on the island of Curaçao, and how the USDA and Panamanian authorities maintained a biological buffer zone at the Isthmus of Panama for decades- until recently, when the fly crossed the border into South Texas.

Dr. Blayne also explains what makes the New World screwworm different from a common blowfly, including how its larvae cause myiasis by consuming living tissue rather than dead. He covers what to look for, why you should not try to remove maggots from a wound on your own, how to report a suspected case to your local vet or the Texas Animal Health Commission, and the good news: there are proven treatments available.

Check out our full in-depth article on the history of the New World screwworm and current response.