Arizona has confirmed its fifth case of New World screwworm, in a dog near Thatcher. The state Department of Agriculture has expanded the quarantine to Graham County.
The Arizona Department of Agriculture (ADA) announced the case on Friday, Nov. 6. The dog is a pet with no known travel history. It was found about 75 miles (about 120 km) from the state’s first case and about 32 miles (about 51 km) from the nearest active outbreak.
Under federal guidelines, a mandatory infested zone with a radius of 12.4 miles (20 km) is established around every property where the parasite is detected. Animals may not leave such a zone without approval issued after an inspection by the state veterinarian.
Four cases had previously been confirmed in Arizona: a sheep and a horse in Greenlee County, and a dog and a horse in Cochise County. All five cases were detected between Oct. 28 and Nov. 6.
New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals. An infestation can cause serious injuries and can be fatal if left untreated. Officials are asking animal owners to check their animals every day for oozing or growing wounds, maggots or clumps of eggs in wounds, signs of discomfort, and changes around body openings such as the ears and nose. Sightings involving wild animals should be reported to the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
The ADA has scheduled an informational meeting for residents on Nov. 10 at the Lee Little Theater at Eastern Arizona College in Thatcher.
California has introduced new requirements, effective immediately, for animals transported from Arizona. An electronic certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) with the appropriate statement that the animal is free of infestation is required, and paper forms are not accepted. Additional requirements apply to animals from infested zones. These include the areas around Sierra Vista, Elfrida and Safford in southeastern Arizona.
Source: KJZZ
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