WEEKEND READ: Confronting rare challenges through science, regulation

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The first week of June brought rare challenges to the forefront of Texans’ minds.

From the battle against New World screwworms in Texas to an ultra-rare genetic disease, here’s what you may have missed this week.

First, second case of New World screwworm discovered in Texas

On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed the state’s first case of the New World screwworm (NWS) in South Texas. It was the first case in Texas since 1966.

The case was found in the umbilical cord of a three-week-old calf in La Pryor, Texas.

The parasitic fly, which lays eggs in the wounds or orifices of animals, can be fatal for livestock. Experts said the NWS has the dangerous potential to wreak havoc on the cattle industry in Texas.

On Friday, a second Texas case of the New World screwworm was confirmed. The case was also discovered in South Texas.

Officials said the latest case was identified in a calf in Zavala County, which is about 100 miles southwest of San Antonio.

State and federal agencies were working to contain the spread and have established a 20-kilometer control zone around the affected area, put quarantine measures in place and imposed restrictions on animal movement.

In response, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed an updated declaration to help speed up sterile fly production.

The sterile fly method, which disrupts the life cycle of the parasite, was used to eradicate the NWS from the United States 60 years ago. However, previous outbreaks needed 500 million sterile flies weekly to eradicate the parasite.

It’s illegal to buy and sell human bones in Texas, but what about owning them?

A man in Kyle was recently arrested for allegedly attempting to sell a human skull via Facebook Marketplace. He faces a charge of purchase or sale of human organs, a felony under Texas law. But what is considered a “human organ”? And is it illegal to own one, too?

According to Texas law, the following are considered “human organs”: human kidney, liver, heart, lungs, pancreas, eye, bone, skin or any other human organ or tissue.

State law — Sec. 48.02 and 48.03 of the Texas Penal Code — prohibits the purchase and sale of human organs, point blank.

There are some exceptions, though, mostly relating to medical practices and organ donation.

Texas family races to save baby with ultra-rare disease as scientists work on cure

A Travis County family is racing against time to save their baby boy from an ultra-rare genetic disease – one so uncommon, fewer than 50 people in the world are known to have it.

Everett Blomstrom was born prematurely at 31 weeks and spent 143 days in the hospital when doctors diagnosed him with a condition affecting his hexokinase (HK1) enzyme.

The disease keeps a critical enzyme stuck in the “on” position, triggering a dangerous chain reaction in his body. “It’s all gas, no brakes,” his mother said.

Experts said the mutation causes a toxic buildup that damages the brain, leading to seizures and neurological decline, eventually resulting in childhood dementia.