By Jamie Martin
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a phased reopening of cattle, bison, and equine imports from Mexico after a temporary halt due to the New World Screwworm outbreak. Imports were suspended on May 11 due to concerns about the pest moving northward in Mexico.
Starting July 7, ports will reopen gradually, beginning with Douglas, Arizona, which has the lowest risk due to its history of collaboration between Sonora officials and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Additional ports in New Mexico and Texas may follow over the next few months.
The New World Screwworm is a dangerous fly species whose larvae can cause fatal wounds in livestock and wildlife by burrowing into living tissue.
To control its spread, USDA is increasing surveillance and has invested $21 million to upgrade a sterile fly plant in Mexico. A new dispersal facility is also being established in Texas.
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said, “We have made good progress with our counterparts in Mexico to increase vital pest surveillance efforts and have boosted sterile fly dispersal efforts.”
Future port reopenings are scheduled for Columbus, NM (July 14), Santa Teresa, NM (July 21), Del Rio, TX (August 18), and Laredo, TX (September 15). The USDA will review conditions after each phase to ensure safety.
Sterile insect techniques—releasing irradiated sterile male flies—will help reduce screwworm populations by interrupting breeding. This strategy helped eradicate the pest in the U.S. in 1966 and again in Florida in 2016.
APHIS emphasizes the importance of public awareness. Infected animals may show signs like head shaking, wounds, and signs of decay. Quick detection is key to prevention and control.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: National