US Closes Southern Border Ports to Livestock Amid New Screwworm Case in Mexico

A new case of the New World Screwworm (NWS) was detected in Ixhuatlán de Madero, Veracruz, Mexico, approximately 370 miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border, prompting U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to order an immediate shutdown of livestock trade through southern border ports to protect American livestock and food supply. This detection is farther north than previous cases and disrupts the USDA's phased port reopening plan, increasing concerns about the pest's northward spread. The USDA has been actively working with Mexican authorities by releasing sterile flies to control the screwworm population and has initiated construction of a sterile fly dispersal facility in South Texas to prepare for potential outbreaks within the U.S. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association supports the USDA's cautious approach, highlighting the balance between economic needs and protecting the cattle herd. Market reactions included gains in cattle futures ahead of the border closure announcement, though some price volatility is expected due to demand fluctuations and the impact of the border shutdown. USDA continues to collaborate with state and local leaders and closely monitor Mexico's containment efforts to prevent the pest from reaching the U.S.