Episode Details

Once eradicated in 1966, the New World screwworm has returned to the United States. Discovered in Texas cattle earlier this month, the invasive fly larva burrows into soft tissue of livestock, horses, sheep and some birds. If not treated early, the larva infection can be fatal. In this edition of "The Milkweed," Pete Hardin joins Bert Zipperer to explain how the pest, and an outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth disease in China, could impact American commercial agriculture. Photo by Subtle Cinematics on Unsplash