JEFFERSON CITY – The New World Screwworm is a parasitic fly capable of causing severe damage to livestock and other warm-blooded animals. The adult fly is about the size of a common housefly, with orange eyes, a metallic blue or green body and three dark stripes along its back.
Eradicated from the U.S. in 1982, the pest is endemic in Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and countries in South America. Now, NWS is advancing northward from the Caribbean and South America, into Mexico.
While the pest is not currently in the U.S., the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Animal Health team, along with state and federal partners are closely monitoring the situation and has prepared a response if NWS comes to the U.S. and Missouri. As part of this plan, a website with information and resources regarding New World Screwworm is now available at agriculture.mo.gov/nws.
In addition, Missouri Department of Agriculture encourages you to register your farm for a federal Premises ID number (PIN).
It is a quick, easy process from the MDA website (Agriculture.Mo.Gov) or a call to the Animal Health Division at (573) 751-3377.
A PIN is a unique code assigned to a single physical location where animals are managed. With a Premises ID, MDA Animal Health officials can quickly notify you if there is a foreign animal disease, such as NWS, in your area.
This registration simply captures the species of livestock at the location, not the quantity.