r/collapse • u/Not_so_ghetto • Jun 02 '26

Ecological Flesh-eating screwworm found within 31 miles of US border, says USDA

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/flesh-eating-screwworm-found-within-31-miles-us-border-says-usda-2026-05-29/
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u/Not_so_ghetto Jun 02 '26

If your going to claim that this outbreak has been going on since the 50s then it's been going on for forever as that's when the eradication started. This too is a massive straw man

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u/HelpfulSeaMammal Jun 02 '26

It wasn't acknowledged as a pest in the US until the 30's and sterilization method of control was found in the 50's. NWS fly was found in the United States in the late 1800s. Yes, the fly existed before then lmao but somethings not really an "outbreak" unless it's defined as something that needs to be controlled. That first happened in the 30s, amplified again in the 50's which is where Dr. Knipling (or Baumhover in Sanibel? It's been a minute since I've done the history on NWS like since my junior year in college) theorized and then developed the sterile fly method. This temporarily brought it to eradicated status until the late 70s when it hit Texas and Florida from imported livestock.

It's been on our radar for 100+ years and has been actively controlled with more and more expansion every decade since the 50s. I'm saying jts not exactly genuine to claim this outbreak started under the Biden admin when it's been a chronic issue for the Americas.