USDA halts cattle imports from Mexico over resurgence of New World Screwworm
Over the weekend, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced they would be suspending live cattle, bison and horse imports from Mexico due to the rapid resurgence and spread of the New World Screwworm (NWS).
The United States eradicated the Screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite, nearly four decades ago. However, an infestation in 2016 was confirmed in deer within the Florida Keys, leading to an aggressive, multi-agency eradication effort. Thanks to this collaboration, the UDSA was able to release sterile male flies into Florida's affected areas, leading to their eradication within months - a strategy they’re re-employing now.
The NWS has been detected in cattle roughly 700 miles from the US border at several remote farms in Veracruz and Oaxaca, Mexico. While the United States continues to work with Mexico on containment and eradication efforts, closure of the borders is necessary to prevent further northward movement.
“...it is my duty to take all steps within my control to protect the livestock industry in the United States from this devastating pest,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. “The protection of our animals and safety of our nation’s food supply is a national security issue of the utmost importance.”
The USDA and Mexico are employing a three-pronged approach to eradication, which includes robust surveillance and education, controlling animal movement and dispersal of the sterile insects. While the pests are currently limited to Mexico and other parts of South America, it’s important to remain vigilant as the consequences could be economically devastating to the industry. In 1976, 1.4 million cattle in Texas were impacted by the NWS. Today, if an outbreak of that size occurred, the USDA estimates it would have a $1.8 billion impact on the Texas economy.
If left untreated, infestation of an animal may lead to their death within a week. The USDA recommends looking for the following signs of NWS on your cattle:
Maggots in wounds or other cavities that are draining or enlarging
Egg masses that may be around an animal’s wound or a recent surgical procedure
Animal’s behavior changes, they may appear depressed and separate from the herd or stop eating
To learn more, visit the USDA’s coverage of this issue here.