The United States is resuming the import of Mexican livestock through the Douglas port of entry in Arizona.

The ban on the import of livestock animals had been in effect for about a year and was introduced due to an outbreak of infestation by New World screwworm larvae. The decision to resume operations at the Douglas, Arizona port of entry was made because the agency believes the parasite's northward movement has slowed down. The states of Sonora and Chihuahua were selected as pilot zones for import due to their distance from the outbreaks in Mexico and the presence of proven inspection programs. The import of animals will be subject to mandatory oversight by the USDA.

As of August 10, 45 cases of the parasite have been officially confirmed in the U.S.: 44 in Texas and one in New Mexico. The first case of the current outbreak was recorded on June 3 in Zavala County, Texas. At the moment, the agency characterizes the situation as controlled, noting that the number of closed cases exceeds the number of new detections. Enhanced monitoring includes the use of drones, insect traps, and camera traps.

The primary method of control remains the release of sterile male flies; however, industry groups note a shortage of production capacity to effectively suppress a population of this scale. In response, the USDA has allocated $25 million for the construction of a new facility for breeding sterile insects in Arizona.

The agency emphasizes that livestock infestation poses no threat to the safety of beef, as federal inspections prevent infected individuals from entering commercial supplies. Livestock farmers in quarantine zones are advised to inspect their livestock and household animals daily, especially around fresh wounds, the nose, ears, and the navel of newborns. There have been no cases of human infestation in the U.S.; the risk to the public is assessed as extremely low.

The schedule for opening other ports of entry, including Santa Teresa and Columbus in New Mexico, remains flexible. The department reserves the right to suspend trade if audits or new information indicate increased risks in the Mexican states of Sonora or Chihuahua.