University of Florida gets $9.5 million for animal infections research as New World screwworm spreads in US
The screwworm has been detected in Texas and New Mexico.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - The University of Florida received a $9.5 million donation for livestock disease research, in the midst of growing concerns over the spread of the New World Screwworm.
Insect-borne infections spread via the transport of animals for food, causing suffering and death in both livestock and pets.
The screwworm has been detected in Texas and New Mexico. For an agriculture-focused region like North Central Florida, outbreaks can place a burden on farmers.
The Earls family donated the money. They are longtime Florida residents who UF officials say are passionate about animal welfare within agriculture.
Several UF departments will share the funds and collaborate on research, including the Department of Entomology and Nematology, which studies insects, and the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences.
The chair of insect biodiversity at UF, Dr. Andrew Short, says the research donation came at the perfect time because people around Florida are concerned about the screwworm and other illnesses carried by bugs.
“The state has been very proactive in implementing some animal movement controls and requiring certificates of veterinary inspection from animals that are moving out of the state of Texas and New Mexico. Certainly, it is something that we’re all concerned about and keeping a very watchful eye on. It could come here, and we need to be prepared for that eventuality,” Dr. Short says.
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