The USA resumes livestock imports from Mexico amid the fight against the screwworm fly.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has officially announced the resumption of cattle imports from Mexico, effective August 24. The decision comes more than a year after a ban was imposed due to the spread of the parasitic screwworm fly (Cochliomyia hominivorax). This parasite is dangerous because its larvae develop in the open wounds of warm-blooded animals, including livestock and humans, which, if left untreated, leads to severe tissue damage and the death of the affected individuals.

To date, 42 cases of screwworm infestation have been confirmed in the U.S., with the vast majority recorded in the state of Texas and one case in New Mexico. However, positive trends in pest containment have been noted: only 11 new cases have been identified since July, compared to 31 in June. The first shipment of livestock from Mexico will be accepted through the Douglas, Arizona port of entry, which borders the Mexican city of Agua Prieta. Further plans include opening the Santa Teresa and Columbus crossings in New Mexico, though the exact timelines have not yet been determined.

To combat the spread of the parasite, the USDA is employing the sterile insect technique. A specialized facility at Moore Air Base in South Texas, which is currently being fast-tracked, is scheduled to begin operations next spring. The facility's design capacity is 300 million sterile flies per week, which will allow for a significant expansion of the current control program. In Mexico itself, the fight against the pest continues: as of now, 1,792 active cases of infestation have been recorded in 29 of the country's 32 states.

In parallel, authorities are strengthening control over the movement of animals within the U.S. For instance, the Florida Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) reported the arrest of Roger Rodriguez Vega, who attempted to bring 24 head of small livestock into the state from Texas in violation of established transport regulations aimed at preventing the spread of the parasite.