~ Jon James
Spiders creep me out big time but at least they, as far as I know, don’t eat flesh. However, there is a fly that does. Ewwwwwwe.
Maine is tightening restrictions on animals entering the state after the recent reappearance of the New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite that was eradicated from the U.S. more than 60 years ago.
The parasite’s larvae can infest open wounds or body openings of warm-blooded animals, including livestock, wildlife, pets and even people. The larvae feed on living tissue and can cause severe injuries or death.
State agriculture officials say transporting infested animals could allow the parasite to spread and threaten the nation’s livestock industry.
Twenty-nine cases have been reported in the past month, mostly in Texas and one in southwestern New Mexico. Most infections involved sheep and cattle, with a few cases in goats and dogs.
Under Maine’s new rules, animals known or suspected to be infested must be examined by a veterinarian before entering the state. Animals from quarantined areas are prohibited, while healthy animals from affected regions must have a veterinary inspection certificate before they can enter.
Federal officials have also restricted animal movement across the U.S.-Mexico border, including suspending cross-border livestock trade.
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