The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Health Security held a two-part New World Screwworm simulation exercise in January to strengthen national readiness and improve coordination for emerging animal and public health threats.
The New World Screwworm is a parasite that infests animals and people by burrowing into flesh and laying eggs, causing serious tissue damage. When livestock is affected, the parasite also poses a serious economic risk.
The exercise covered three different possible scenarios for domestic New World Screwworm spreading: illegal cattle smuggling, wild animals, and a human with an infected wound.
“Because New World screwworm can affect any warm-blooded animal, as well as birds and people, a coordinated federal, state, and local One Health response is critical to strengthening our preparedness efforts,” Rear Admiral Michael Schmoyer, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service associate administrator and New World Screwworm directorate director, said. “Though this exercise is only one small part of our overall preparedness efforts, it allowed us to identify gaps and strengthen collaboration to ensure we are ready should New World screwworm reach the United States.”
The event was held in coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and U.S. Department of the Interior.