SerpApi.Org
As warm summer temperatures persist across the U.S., outdoor enthusiasts must be mindful of dangerous pests, such as the New World Screwworm (NWS), which has recently resurfaced.
The flesh-eating parasite is a dangerous pest that affects livestock, pets, wildlife, birds and less commonly, humans.
Screwworm infestations begin when a female fly lays eggs on a wound or body opening, where they hatch into larvae that burrow into the wound and feed on living tissue.
After feeding for about seven days, the larvae drop to the ground, where they emerge as adult screwworm flies to continue the cycle.
This can be distinguished by feeling or seeing maggots move in the skin, or in the ears, nose, eyes or mouth, with an often painful, foul-smelling odor, according to the CDC.
The first reported case of NWS in the U.S. occurred on June 3, 2026, and since then, 41 cases have been recorded across two states in domestic animals, according to the USDA.
The active cases are located in Pecos, Brewster, Crockett, Sutton and Starr Counties in Texas.
As concern about these pests grows amid the small, but still active threat, experts at Kalshi ponder how many human cases will be reported in the U.S. by the end of 2026.
Prediction markets at Kalshi are predicting a 30% chance of at least one human NWS case in the country this year.
People with medical conditions that can cause bleeding or open pores, such as eczema, are at risk of these infectious pests.
It is important to keep open wounds clean and covered, no matter how small or where on the body they are, to help prevent NWS flies.
Original article source: How many human cases of New World screwworm will occur in the US this year?
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