Reviewed by: Cindy Hatcher
What is the New World screwworm + what Alabamians should know
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Dyed sterile female and male New World Screwworm fly being examined at the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service New World Screwworm Sterile Fly Dispersal Facility at Moore Airfield, in Edinburg, Texas on Feb 10, 2026. “260210-O-RD0001-5295” by USDAgov is licensed under CC PDM 1.0
If you pay attention to the news, you’ve likely seen countless articles about the New World screwworm, an invasive parasitic fly that recently reemerged in Texas—despite being eradicated from the United States in 1966. While Alabama is not currently in the hot zone, researchers say it’s exactly the kind of threat worth watching closely.
To learn more about the New World screwworm and the threat it poses, we spoke with Dr. Kathryn E. Reif, a parasitology and vector-borne disease expert at Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine who has spent her career studying arthropods like ticks—and the diseases they carry. Read the full story here.
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