News

New World screwworm confirmed 120 miles from US border

The USDA says New World screwworm has been detected approximately 120 miles from the U.S. border.  This is the third incident in Nuevo León since September. 

A spokesperson for the USDA says all three detections have been isolated cases and were associated with the movement of animals from affected areas of Mexico. 

The USDA says it continues to lead an aggressive whole-government response to NWS and is working with Mexico to stop its northward spread. 

R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard says Mexico’s continued movement of cattle from its southern region, where NWS cases remain active, to its northern region increases the risk of introducing the pest into the United States.  Bullard says the outbreaks of NWS are a serious threat to U.S. livestock and wildlife and the importation of cattle, bison, and horses from Mexico should remain prohibited until the country can demonstrate it has eradicated the best from within its borders.

USDA maintains a map of confirmed cases in Mexico at screwworm.gov.