New Dashboard Tracks New World Screwworm Spread Across US

New World screwworm (NWS) has been detected in the US for the first time in approximately 60 years, with cases reported across 16 Texas counties and 1 New Mexico county. To help public health officials identify emerging threats and estimate where cases could appear next, researchers at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency have developed a new dashboard. The dashboard combines confirmed detections of NWS with environmental conditions that could support the fly and its larvae, as well as media reports about suspected or emerging cases. This approach allows for the estimation of risk at the county level across the US. The inclusion of media reports is a key part of the approach, as confirming a suspected NWS infestation through laboratory testing can take days or weeks. ## Early Detection and Response The added lead time provided by the dashboard is crucial as NWS moves into areas where it has not been detected in decades. The parasite can cause severe injury or death in animals, and people can also become infested, although NWS is not transmitted from person to person. The dashboard's value lies in its ability to give public health officials a sense of where they might expect to see cases next, allowing them to stay one step ahead of the parasite. ## Collaboration and Resources Veterinarians play a critical role in the surveillance effort, as NWS can affect any warm-blooded animal. The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency is working with the California Department of Food and Agriculture to connect veterinarians with resources for identifying and reporting potential cases. The county is also working with the UCSD initiative Resilient Shield, a CDC-funded center that builds public health tools in response to requests from government agencies. ## The Importance of Early Detection The return of NWS to the US highlights the importance of early detection and response. The parasite can cause significant economic losses, as seen in the 1950s when it cost US livestock producers tens of millions of dollars annually. The sterile insect technique, which involves releasing large numbers of radiation-sterilized male flies to prevent the population from reproducing, remains part of the response to the parasite's current return. The dashboard is currently available only to project partners and public health officials, but the university hopes to eventually make a public version available. The tool's developers argue that the lead time it provides is critical in addressing emerging threats before they reach additional regions.