APHIS Bans Imports of Live Cattle at US-Mexico Border Over New World Screwworm
Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins announced May 11 that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is working with CBP to suspend the import of live cattle, horse and bison at U.S. ports of entry along the Mexico border because of the detected spread of the new world screwworm (NWS).
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The import suspension is effective immediately following detection of the pest in farms about 700 miles south of the border.
The U.S. and Mexican governments have been working to interdict and eradicate the pest (see 2505010006), but “there has been unacceptable northward advancement of NWS and additional action must be taken to slow the northern progression of this deadly parasitic fly,” USDA said.
The agency said the import suspension will persist on a month-by-month basis "until a significant window of containment is achieved." USDA expects to review the latest data and metrics with counterparts in Mexico in two weeks.
Any livestock currently in holding for entry into the U.S. will be processed normally and will include an APHIS port Veterinary Medical Officer inspection exam and treatment to ensure they are not carrying NWS.