New World Screwworm Confirmed 70 Miles from U.S. Border 

This is a top national security priority. Let me be clear, protecting America’s livestock and food supply is non-negotiable.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on the latest confirmation of the presence of “New World screwworm” on cattle less than 70 miles from the U.S. border – “the closet detection yet.”

Why It Matters: The New World screwworm (NWS), a parasitic fly that feeds on flesh, can infect both animals and people. Although the U.S. successfully eradicated infestations in cattle decades ago, the species still poses a threat to ranchers, spreading quickly and potentially devastating livestock.  

Since July, when the northernmost detection of New World screwworms was reported in Veracruz – about 370 miles south of the latest finding – USDA and Mexican authorities have actively monitored nearly 8,000 traps through Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. So far, 13,000 samples show no new NWS flies, but U.S. ports remain closed to cattle, bison, and horse imports from Mexico.  

Learn More:

• Mexico Confirms Case of New World Screwworm in Nuevo Leon (USDA) 
• The New World screwworm: History, eradication, and recent resurgence (KLTV) 
• About New World Screwworm 

Image Credit: CDC