US Halts Livestock Imports from Mexico Amid Screwworm Threat

The New World Screwworm (NWS) is a fly larvae that burrows into the flesh of living animals, causing severe and often deadly damage.

The last NWS invasion in America took 30 years for the cattle industry to recover, highlighting the severity of the threat. Why this matters: A widespread screwworm infestation could have significant economic consequences for the U.S. livestock industry and potentially impact food prices.

The USDA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are restricting imports of live animal commodities originating from or transiting through Mexico, effective immediately.

The U.S. and Mexico are collaborating on a three-pronged approach to eradicate NWS, including field surveillance, controlled animal movement, and sterile insect dispersal.

NWS was eradicated in the U.S. in the 1960s and in Mexico in the 1970s, demonstrating that eradication is possible with sustained effort.

Livestock owners should monitor their animals for any signs of screwworm infestation and report suspected cases to local authorities.

The USDA and Mexican authorities are committed to working together to eradicate NWS and protect the livestock industry.

Q: What is the New World Screwworm?

Q: Why is the US halting livestock imports from Mexico?

Q: What is being done to eradicate the screwworm?

The US has halted live cattle, horse, and bison imports from Mexico to protect the nation's livestock from the New World Screwworm.

The screwworm can cause serious and often deadly damage to animals, with potential economic repercussions for the cattle industry.

U.S. and Mexican authorities are collaborating to eradicate the pest through surveillance, animal movement control, and sterile insect dispersal.