Sen. Nelson calls for increased funding to fight flesh-eating parasite in Florida

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is calling on the federal government to step up its response to the infestation of New World screwworm in Florida.

Federal officials confirmed earlier this week that the flesh-eating parasite had been found in a stray dog near Homestead, Florida.

The case was the first in more than 30 years that the screwworm has been found on Florida’s mainland.

Nelson said that if state and federal wildlife officials don't act quickly, Florida's nearly $1 billion cattle industry could soon be at risk.  

"The result could be catastrophic for Florida's wildlife and livestock industry," Nelson wrote in a letter sent Wednesday to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Interior Secretary Sally Jewell.

"More than 130 endangered Key deer have already fallen victim to the screwworm," he said. "We cannot allow the white-tailed deer population, or the endangered Florida panther, or Florida's nearly $1 billion beef industry to collapse too."

Nelson said he wants the federal government to provide additional funding to better monitor and contain the screwworms' spread.

Cox Media Group