New World screwworm is making headlines again, but how worried should we really be? In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Gordon sits down with University of Florida medical and veterinary entomologist Dr. Edwin Burgess to unpack the science behind one of the most infamous livestock pests in history.

Learn what New World screwworm is, why it poses a serious threat to livestock and wildlife, how it spreads, and why the risk to humans remains extremely low. Dr. Burgess explains the fascinating sterile insect technique that successfully eradicated the pest from the United States decades ago, how "sterile flies" are helping fight its return, and why experts are confident it can be controlled again. They also tackle common misconceptions about sterilized flies, food safety, surveillance efforts, and the role of agricultural producers, scientists, veteri ...