New World screwworm fly raises alarms among Arizona ag officials

Mexican agricultural authorities have detected a new case of New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite, about 70 miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border near Laredo, Texas.

Arizona's agricultural experts and state officials say they've been preparing for the spread of the parasite with education and surveillance campaigns since the first reports emerged from Mexico in November of last year. The newest case, in northern Mexico, was detected Sept. 21.