By Jamie Martin
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins has announced the suspension of live cattle, horse, and bison imports through U.S. southern border ports due to the rapid spread of New World Screwworm (NWS) in Mexico.
This decision, effective immediately, comes as NWS has been detected in remote farms up to 700 miles north of the U.S. border in states such as Oaxaca and Veracruz.
Despite ongoing efforts between the U.S. and Mexico to eradicate the pest, the continued northward spread of NWS has prompted additional action.
To curb this progression, the USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in coordination with Customs and Border Protection (CBP), will restrict the import of live animal commodities from or transiting through Mexico.
This suspension will be evaluated on a month-by-month basis, continuing until significant containment progress is achieved. USDA plans to review the situation in two weeks, focusing on the latest data and metrics.
Livestock currently held for entry into the U.S. will still undergo the usual APHIS inspections and treatments to ensure they are not carrying NWS.
“The United States has ordered the suspension of livestock imports through ports of entry along our southern border after the continued spread of the New World Screwworm in Mexico. Secretary Berdegué and I have worked closely on the NWS response; however, 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 Secretary Rollins.
“The protection of our animals and safety of our nation’s food supply is a national security issue of the utmost importance. Once we see increased surveillance and eradication efforts, and the positive results of those actions, we remain committed to opening the border for livestock trade. This is not about politics or punishment of Mexico, rather it is about food and animal safety.”
Effective eradication requires a comprehensive approach: robust field surveillance, controlled animal movement, and sterile insect dispersal. Suspending livestock imports will assist in limiting the spread of NWS while allowing the U.S. to reassess current mitigation standards. The pest's northward spread could also occur via wildlife movement across the border region.
NWS, which causes severe damage to livestock and other animals, was first reported in Mexico in November 2024. While the U.S. successfully eradicated the pest in the past, recent detections signal a continued threat to animal health and food security.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-erdinhasdemir
Categories: National