Key facts
- The US is planning to fight a flesh-eating screwworm outbreak.
- Measures include using flies and dogs.
- The screwworm has not been found in America since 1966.
- The outbreak is a growing concern in the southern US.
The United States is preparing to combat an outbreak of the flesh-eating screwworm, an insect not seen in the country since 1966. The growing concern in the southern US has prompted the development of a strategy that involves the use of flies and dogs to combat the infestation. This marks a significant re-emergence of the pest, which poses a threat to livestock and potentially other animals.