Latest news with #NewWorldScrewworm
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Knoxville family wants ‘substandard' conditions at apartment fixed
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — A young Knoxville family is paying a lot of money for what they call a 'substandard apartment.' They showed 6 News what appears to be violations of the Landlord-Tenant Act. Provisions in the act require a habitable and safe dwelling. For example, the home is free from hazards, and steps are being taken by the landlord to make repairs. The renters we met say they have none of that. Makayla Phillips is like all mothers. She wants a safe, clean place for her kids. But that's not what she and the father of her children have. They live at Bramblewood Townhomes and apartments in Knoxville. Their lease for $975 a month was signed in late February. But there are problems. For example, there is no hot water. A video shows a rat skittering across their kids' bedroom. The apartment's back porch is dangerous. It's collapsed. Their refrigerator and freezer is not cold enough. And, there's more. 'So the A/C has not worked. We have not had heat or air for the whole time we have been here. They were supposed to be exchanging parts for it, but it has been left open, wires exposed, and still has not been repaired,' said Mikey Johnson. What is New World Screwworm? Veterinarian explains potential threat to livestock 'Everything in [the refrigerator] is bad. It will go in and out. We have told them multiple times about it. Every single thing in here and de-thawed, re-thawed. It keeps on going in and out. Sometimes it will leak. That's what this is from. It tore the whole floor up from it leaking,' said Phillips. We noticed management closed the pool at the complex. What we saw behind the locked gates were appliances. There are a lot of them, and they're exposed to the elements. 'This is one of the refrigerators they just brought us. But they have an old pool down there that is filled with old refrigerators. They just pull it out of there and bring it to us. We clean all the mold, and there is still stuff that hasn't come off,' said Phillips. Johnson said apartment maintenance moved their stove into the center of the kitchen more than a week ago. The electric burners don't work because the stove is unplugged. Police seek help to solve 2023 murder of Chris Hill in West Knoxville 'They told us they were going to be getting us a new one. But they said they would not be putting a new stove in here until the rat problem is gone,' said Johnson. He showed 6 News a hole where pest control told them the rats were coming from. In addition, a hole in the kitchen ceiling has not been repaired yet. 'When we first moved in, we had a water leak that we didn't know about and maintenance didn't catch it,' said Johnson. The leak was fixed, but the cardboard remains. 'We've had to go and stay at places because of the rats. We've had to go to places to cook,' said Phillips. The apartment has water, but Phillips says there's no hot water. That's likely because the water heater isn't working properly. In the children's bedroom, we asked about the rats that were caught on camera. 'They're coming here right here in between the wall. They're in the whole building really. Basically, there's been an infestation,' said Johnson. KCS Superintendent shares insight into preparations for upcoming school year Outside, there is a dangerous issue with the porch. 'So when we moved in, it was unlevel. I've tried to jack it up and put some boards under it to make it safer. Now the trusses underneath have completely snapped in half,' said Johnson. We called the apartment office for a response to these issues last week, but no one answered, and the voicemail was full. We caught up with the landlord later by phone. Jim McSpadden blamed the issues on Phillips and Johnson, saying they created the problems. He said they accepted the apartment 'as is' when they moved in three months ago, and he said the couple stopped paying their rent recently. Johnson admits he has not paid May's rent because nothing has been fixed, but he says he did pay March and April's rent. For Phillips, all she wants is a safe place for her children. 'I want to be able to cook for my kids. I don't want to have to worry about where my kids sleep so they don't get bitten by rats,' said Phillips. Under state law, landlords must make necessary repairs and take steps to keep their property habitable. But it seems like that's not going to happen for Johnson and Phillips. The landlord tells us, since the couple knew of the problems, they accepted their unit as is. He said they made the apartment worse, creating even more issues, and they are behind in their rent. But as Johnson and Phillips told us, they asked that repairs be made, but then gave up, and held back their rent for May. Finally, the landlord told us he would begin legal proceedings to evict the couple. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
What is New World Screwworm? Veterinarian explains potential threat to livestock
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Tennessee State Veterinarian is warning livestock owners to keep an eye out for their animals after the New World Screwworm, or NWS, was detected off the border of Mexico. The NWS is an invasive pest that poses a serious threat to livestock and other warm-blooded animals according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. They said the recent findings of this parasite in Mexico highlights the potential for it to spread into southern states. Police seek help to solve 2023 murder of Chris Hill in West Knoxville 'The difference between this fly is that it lays a larva that feeds on living tissue, not dead tissue similar to other flies that lay larva, and they feed on dead necrotic tissue. This fly, or the larva feeds on living tissue or any fresh wound,' said UT Extension Veterinarian, Lew Strickland. Since the parasite was detected in Mexico, Strickland said he has been informing his clients to keep an eye out. 'Look for an odd-looking fly, it has a unique metallic blue body and orange eyes, and has three distinct stripes running along its back right along the top side of its thorax,' he said. While the parasite could impact cattle, he said it could also infect farm animals, pets, and in rare cases, people. KCS Superintendent shares insight into preparations for upcoming school year He said the NWS can cause sudden tissue damage and infections that can lead to death. However, this is not the first time the US has dealt with the screw worm. 'It was back in the 50s that this fly was around, but it was eradicated by a sterile fly mating, sterile flies were created that could mate with these females to where the eggs that they lay are sterile, and they don't hatch,' said Strickland. But if it were to come back, he said it could have serious economic impacts. 'It can easily affect any cattle trade or any other animal industry,' said Strickland. 'We don't want it moving across borders because this fly can be on an animal and that animal could be hauled to another state, and we certainly don't want that as well. So, trade can certainly be affected quickly by this fly.' USDA inspects livestock for flesh-eating parasite in Strawberry Plains While he said it is reassuring to know that since these parasites have been eradicated in the US before, he stresses the importance of checking your animals and reporting any unusual wounds to your local vet or agriculture department. Since they were detected, the USDA suspended imports of live cattle, horses, and bison along the southern U.S. border. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Rumor of parasitic fly in Missouri debunked by Department of Agriculture
ST. LOUIS – Following rumors of an insect being found in Missouri that is deadly to animals, the Missouri Department of Agriculture released a statement debunking the misinformation. The New World Screwworm is a fly that's larvae can settle into the flesh of livestock, pets, wildlife, birds, and others, which is often times deadly to the animal. According to the USDA, they tear out tissue to bury themselves deeper, like a screw, into the animal. As they continue the process, the wounds grow larger and deeper, and are capable of laying more larvae inside. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now On Tuesday, Missouri's Department of Agriculture stated that they had not received any notification from the USDA regarding detection of the New World Screwworm fly, but they are working closely together for any animal health issues. The fly is around the size of a common horsefly, the USA said. They have orange eyes, a metallic blue or green body, and three dark stripes on their back. An infected animal will display signs of irritated behavior, shaking its head, will smell of decay, and the larvae will be visible in wounds. Anyone who notices these signs with their animal should reach out to their veterinarian, who will then contact the USDA. For additional information on the New World Screwworm fly, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Rumors of devastating pest are unfounded, per MO Department of Agriculture
MISSOURI — Rumors of a devastating pest being in Missouri are unfounded, according to the Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA). New World Screwworm (NWS) disease is an infestation with the larvae of the NWS fly that lives off the flesh of living mammals and, less commonly, birds, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This pest burrows into living tissue, causing severe — and sometimes deadly — damage to animals, including livestock and pets, says the MDA. Rumors of NWS being detected in Missouri are circulating but are unfounded, per the MDA. 'Unfounded rumors are circulating regarding NWS in Missouri,' the MDA said in a statement. 'To date, the MDA and the USDA has received no notification of New World Screwworm detection in Missouri. Missouri Department of Agriculture works closely with USDA on animal health issues.' The Missouri Cattlemen's Association shared the statement on social media, noting that the rumors have resulted in unnecessary alarm within the state cattle industry. Globally, however, the issue is persisting. According to the USDA, in the year of 2023, NWS detections in Panama exploded from an average of 25 cases per year to more than 6,500 cases in 1 year. Since then, screwworm has been detected in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and Mexico, north of the biological barrier that's successfully contained this pest to South America for decades, per the USDA. Earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the suspension of live cattle, horse and bison imports through U.S. ports of entry along the southern border due to the continued and rapid northward spread of NWS in Mexico, effective immediately. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Officials look to stop spread of screwworm fly
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – A growing threat is moving closer to New Mexico ranches, and it could impact dinner tables and jobs across the state. The New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau said the New World Screwworm fly is a parasitic fly that is rapidly spreading north from Mexico into New Mexico. When the pest reaches the state, it could devastate more than 1 million cattle and threaten more than 10,000 ranching families. Lea County Correctional Facility will close at end of June The USDA said the fly's larvae eat the living tissue of warm-blooded animals. In response to the screwworm spread, the USDA has halted imports of live cattle, horses, and bison along the southern border. New Mexico's federal delegation is pushing bipartisan legislation to stop the outbreak. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
