Fact Check: I can promise you that NWS was NOT eradicated in 1966. I was a teen in the 1970s living/working on a ranch in far west Texas. The ranch had 2000 sheep at one time. We had many many cases of screw worm infestations. I became an expert open pasture roper during the summers. We roped the sheep and applied medicine (white king? then purple stuffin later years). I carried 2 ropes on my saddle and they smelled like a corpse. So much for facts.

Fact-Check Article: The Claim About New World Screwworm Eradication

What We Know

The claim states that the New World Screwworm (NWS), Cochliomyia hominivorax, was not eradicated in 1966, as the individual recounts personal experiences of dealing with infestations in the 1970s. The NWS is a significant parasite that infests warm-blooded animals, leading to severe economic losses in livestock (see National Agricultural Library).

The eradication of the NWS in the United States was a major public health and agricultural success, officially declared in 1966. This was achieved through extensive efforts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and involved the use of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), which involved releasing sterile males into the wild to reduce reproduction rates (see Texas Animal Health Commission).

However, it is important to note that while the NWS was eradicated from the U.S. in 1966, it continued to exist in other regions, particularly in Central America, where outbreaks were reported in subsequent years (see Texas Parks & Wildlife). In fact, significant outbreaks occurred in the U.S. again from 1972 to 1976, affecting thousands of cattle and leading to considerable economic impact (see USDA Economic Impact Report).

Analysis

The individual's claim about experiencing screw worm infestations during the 1970s is consistent with the historical record of NWS outbreaks. While the official eradication in the U.S. occurred in 1966, there were indeed subsequent outbreaks in the 1970s, particularly in Texas, which aligns with the personal experiences shared in the claim. The USDA documented that the last reported cases of NWS in the U.S. occurred in the late 1970s, and these outbreaks were significant enough to warrant attention and intervention (see History of Screwworms in the U.S.).

The reliability of the sources used to verify this claim is generally high. The USDA and Texas Parks & Wildlife are authoritative organizations with a vested interest in agricultural health and pest control. Their reports provide detailed historical accounts and economic analyses of the impact of NWS on livestock. However, it is essential to recognize that personal anecdotes, while valid, do not constitute definitive evidence of the broader eradication timeline.

Conclusion

The claim that NWS was not eradicated in 1966 is Partially True. While the official eradication occurred that year, the individual’s experiences of screw worm infestations in the 1970s are corroborated by historical records of outbreaks that occurred after 1966. Therefore, while the NWS was eradicated from the U.S. in 1966, it did not mean that infestations ceased entirely, as subsequent outbreaks were documented.

Sources

1. Introduction · STOP Screwworms - National Agricultural Library
2. New World Screwworm Fact Sheet - Texas Parks & Wildlife
3. NWS Economic Impact Report
4. New World Screwworm - Texas Animal Health Commission
5. History of screwworms in the U.S.