US Bans Livestock Imports from Mexico Due to Screwworm Threat | JQJO

The U.S. has banned imports of live cattle, horses, and bison from Mexico due to a resurgence of the New World screwworm, a parasitic fly whose maggots cause flesh-eating infections in animals and humans. The ban, effective immediately, is a month-to-month measure until the threat is contained. The screwworm, eradicated in the U.S. decades ago, has recently spread through Central America and into southern Mexico. The USDA and Mexico are collaborating to eradicate the pest, but the ban reflects urgent action to prevent further spread into the U.S.