BusinessJune 9, 2026

Screwworm Reappears in U.S.: What Happened and How Officials Respond

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② Start Lesson

Key Vocabulary

screwworm/ˈskruː.wɝm/

a fly whose larvae eat living flesh

"The farmer found screwworm larvae in the calf's wound."

maggot/ˈmæɡət/

a fly larva, a small worm-like insect

"There were maggots in the old wound."

quarantine/ˈkwɔːr.ən.tiːn/

a controlled area to stop disease from spreading

"The animals stayed inside the quarantine zone."

Listening

Screwworm Reappears in U.S.: What Happened and How Officials Respond

On June 3, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed New World screwworm in a calf in Zavala County, Texas. Screwworm larvae are maggots that burrow into and eat living flesh. They can cause painful, smelly wounds and serious harm to animals.

By June 8, officials had confirmed five animal cases in the United States: three calves, a goat and a dog in New Mexico. The USDA set a 12-mile (20-kilometer) quarantine zone and began releasing sterile flies to stop more infections. No locally acquired human cases have been reported. If you see wounds that do not heal or maggots, contact a veterinarian or doctor right away.

108 words

Quiz

1. When did the USDA confirm the screwworm case?

2. Where was the infected calf found?

3. How many animal cases had officials confirmed by June 8?

Reading Practice

Read the article from the Listening section aloud. Your AI teacher will give you pronunciation feedback.

Discussion

Do you have pets or farm animals? How would you check them for wounds?

Have you ever seen an animal with a bad wound? What happened?

Do you feel worried when you hear about animal diseases? Why or why not?