US Acts as Screwworm Nears Border, Suspends Imports

The New World screwworm, a parasitic fly previously eradicated from the United States and Mexico, has re-emerged in Central America, with outbreaks now only 700 miles from the U.S. border. As a result, the United States has suspended imports of live cattle, horses, and bison, and the USDA has announced an $8.5 million investment in a new sterile insect dispersal facility in Texas. Binational containment efforts with Mexican authorities are underway, including the release of sterilized male flies to block the pest's northward spread. Out of more than 2,000 screwworm cases registered in Mexico since the resurgence, only 281 remain active, thanks to extensive surveillance and eradication programs. U.S. lawmakers are proposing additional funding to support the ongoing response. Agricultural leaders express optimism that coordinated action will prevent a costly outbreak and protect the region's livestock and food supply.