The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has authorized the FDA to issue Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) for animal drugs to combat infestations caused by the New World Screwworm (NWS).
The parasite attacks warm-blooded animals—including livestock, pets, and wildlife—causing severe tissue damage and even death. Officials stress that the risk to human health in the U.S. remains very low, but the potential threat to animal health and the food supply demands swift action. Currently, there are no FDA-approved treatments for NWS in the U.S.
Through the EUA process, the FDA can authorize faster, flexible use of certain animal drugs—either repurposed from existing approvals or sourced from outside the U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins emphasized the move as critical to protecting livestock, food security, and national security.
Photo Credit: USDA
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