By I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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THURSDAY, May 15, 2025 (HealthDay News) \u2014 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has temporarily halted the import of live cattle, horses and bison from Mexico.<\/p>\n
The move aims to stop the spread of New World screwworm<\/a>, a dangerous flesh-eating parasite that can be deadly to animals and can sometimes harm people, CNN <\/em>reported.<\/p>\n The screwworm was found on Mexican farms as far north as Oaxaca and Veracruz, about 700 miles from the U.S. border.<\/p>\n Screwworm flies lay eggs in wounds of warm-blooded animals. The larvae burrow into flesh, causing painful infections and sometimes death, according to CNN<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe protection of our animals and safety of our nation\u2019s food supply is a national security issue of the utmost importance,\u201d USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins<\/a> said in a statement.<\/p>\n The ban will last at least two weeks but could be extended and reviewed on a \u201cmonth-by-month\u201d basis, the USDA said.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is not about politics or punishment of Mexico, rather it is about food and animal safety,” Rollins said in a statement.<\/p>\n Mexico\u2019s Agriculture Secretary Julio Berdegu\u00e9<\/a> and President Claudia Sheinbaum both objected to the move. Sheinbaum called the move “unfair,” saying, \u201cthe Mexican government has been working on all fronts from the very first moment we were alerted to the screwworm.\u201d<\/p>\n This is not the first time in recent memory that the border has closed to live animal trade.<\/p>\n A similar shutdown happened in November when screwworms were detected in southern Mexico. The ban was lifted in February once steps were in place to inspect animals, CNN <\/em>reported.<\/p>\n Screwworms mainly affect livestock but can also infest humans, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a> (CDC). Mexico confirmed its first human case in April in a 77-year-old woman, who was treated with antibiotics and is stable.<\/p>\n Screwworm was declared gone from the U.S. in 1966, but outbreaks have happened. In 1972, Texas reported 90,000 cases. A small outbreak occurred in 2016 in the Florida Keys, which affected some deer.<\/p>\n The USDA says screwworm has moved north in recent years from Central America to Mexico.<\/p>\n \u201cThe United States and Mexico continue efforts<\/a> to interdict and eradicate NWS in Mexico and work in good faith,\u201d the USDA said. \u201cHowever, despite these efforts and the economic impact on both countries due to this action, there has been unacceptable northward advancement of NWS and additional action must be taken to slow the northern progression of this deadly parasitic fly.\u201d<\/p>\n More information<\/strong><\/p>\n The National Invasive Species Information Center has more on screwworms<\/a>.<\/p>\n