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Parasite found in stray dog in Miami-Dade County could be threat to Florida's cattle industry

A parasite that feeds on the flesh of animals is working its way north in Florida.

The New World screwworm has already killed over 100 deer.

Sen. Bill Nelson said the state’s nearly billion-dollar cattle industry could be at risk, since the parasite once killed thousands of cattle in Texas.

For the first time in more than 30 years, the screwworm has resurfaced somewhere other than the Keys.

A stray dog in Miami-Dade County was found with the flesh-eating parasite.

And with the cattle industry possibly at risk, Nelson is calling on the federal government to keep it from spreading.

"It's a big concern, but you know the state, the Department of Agriculture and universities and everyone is on top of it," said cattle owner Allan Roberts.

Roberts said he raises about 300 cows at First Coast Cattle. And even though he was just a baby when the screwworm hit hard, he said he heard horror stories.

"Real cruel. Devastated, you know, the cattle industry; it took a lot more with treating," Roberts said.

Roberts said if the screwworm were to cause an infestation, it would be costly to not only him, but to the consumer.

"It would make our job more labor-intensive so it would cost more to raise beef. So we would hope we would get more for it," Roberts said.

But some shoppers said no matter the price, they will keep buying beef.

"As long as it's not over-abundant, at least the cattle farmers keep making profit," Mike Bowles said.

Other shoppers said they would swap beef for chicken.

"Price already has been spinning out of control for the last little bit. Any more going up is going to hurt more than help," Thad Pickard said.

There haven’t been any other reports of the screwworm, and it is treatable if caught early.  As a precautionary measure, sterile flies are being released Friday in the Homestead area, where the stray dog was found with screwworm.