Will Pet Insurance Cover New World Screwworm Infestation? | Insurify

New World screwworm (NWS) hasn't plagued American domestic animals in nearly 60 years. But since June 3, federal authorities have confirmed at least 20 cases in Texas and New Mexico. Most identified cases are in cattle, sheep, and goats.

But with one known infestation in a dog, pet parents may be wondering if their companion animals are at risk. And they may be unsure if they can rely on their pet insurance to help them if their dog or cat contracts an infestation.

"Standard accident and illness pet insurance policies usually cover treatment for parasitic infestations," said Julia Taliesin, a licensed insurance agent and economic analyst for Insurify. "And wellness plan add-ons typically cover preventive measures for parasites like heartworms."

Vigilance is the main preventive measure for NWS, said Dr. Jo Myers, a licensed veterinarian and veterinary consultant for Vetster. And it's important for pet parents to put their animals' risk into perspective, she said.

"For the average indoor cat or healthy house dog living far from affected areas, this is not something I would want owners panicking about," Myers told Insurify. "But pets that spend time outdoors in affected regions, hunting dogs, farm dogs, pets with chronic skin disease, pets recovering from surgery, and animals traveling to or from affected areas warrant additional vigilance."

What to know about New World Screwworm

Screwworms aren't actually worms. They're the larvae of screwworm flies, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). NWS infestation occurs when adult female flies lay eggs in open wounds or other body openings.

The infestations are dangerous to animals, mostly domestic livestock, because the larvae burrow into openings in the flesh, enlarging wounds and creating serious damage to surrounding tissues.

As of June 25, the USDA has recorded just 20 cases of the highly destructive parasitic NWS in the country. And authorities have logged just one case in a domestic house pet — a dog living in part of New Mexico that borders Texas, where all 19 other cases have occurred.

Confirmed Cases of New World Screwworm in the United States

"New World screwworm was eradicated from the United States decades ago through a highly successful sterile insect program, which is one reason its reappearance has attracted so much attention," Myers said.

Sterile insect programs are an environmentally friendly form of pest control that relies on the mass rearing and release of sterilized males. Mating between the sterilized males and females in the wild can't lead to offspring, and pest populations ultimately die off.

Before its eradication in the U.S., NWS caused major cattle and other livestock losses, Myers said. "That translated into significant economic losses for producers, and posed a threat to the nation's food supply and agricultural economy … Preventing the parasite from becoming re-established is important to protecting livestock industries, wildlife populations, pets, and, in rare cases, people."

What's next? How Americans can protect their pets

"At this time, the overall risk to most house pets in the United States remains low, but risk is not the same everywhere," Myers said.

Pets living in or traveling through affected areas may be at risk of exposure to NWS. Anyone bringing a dog to or from Mexico should be aware of federal health requirements for animals traveling from affected areas.

"Unlike heartworm, Lyme disease, or rabies, which can all be prevented with a treatment or immunization, there is no way to prevent screwworm, other than being proactive and preventative," Lauren Anders Brown, CEO and co-founder of pet-travel compliance platform PadsPass, told Insurify. "If you are in the affected area, like Texas or New Mexico, pay close attention."

To protect pets, owners should:

Closely monitor wounds, skin problems, hot spots, surgical incisions, and other types of skin infections.Check pets' skin regularly for signs of infestation. Have your veterinarian check wounds that get bigger, drain, seem unusually painful, or contain visible maggots or egg masses, Myers recommended.Clean and cover even small scratches, and establish a parasite prevention routine.Avoid or minimize travel to affected regions. If you must travel to affected areas, take your pet to the vet before and after the trip, Anders Brown advised.

Most American pets aren't at risk from the current NWS outbreak, experts agree. And NWS is curable. Most infected animals recover, according to the USDA.

For people with pets living in or traveling through affected areas, vigilance is the best preventative measure.

"As with all potentially serious health conditions, pet parents shouldn't try to treat their pets at home," Taliesin said. "Veterinarians are aware of the risks — the American Veterinary Medical Association has issued guidance for diagnosing and treating NWS. Your pet's vet is best able to identify and treat an infestation. And pet insurance will likely cover diagnosis and treatment costs in most cases."