U.S. Urges Action: Mexico Must Halt Screwworm Invasion at Border

( Cryptonesia ) — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins issued a warning to Mexico, stating that she will terminate beef imports from the country unless Mexico intensifies its efforts to halt the dissemination of a flesh-devouring disease.

In A missive addressed to the Mexican Ambassador in the U.S. , Rollins warned that they would obstruct the importation of live cattle, bison, and horses unless Mexico complies with the United States' requirements.

"Time is crucial... We can’t afford to keep functioning with limited resources," Rollins stated in the letter.

What exactly is the New World screwworm?

The New World screwworm It is a fly larvae capable of decimating livestock populations.

This process involves tunneling into a live animal's tissue, as reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Such behavior frequently leads to severe harm and is commonly fatal. These parasites usually target farm animals, wild creatures, domesticated pets, and occasionally birds. Nonetheless, in exceedingly uncommon instances, humans may also become hosts for these organisms.

The USDA has indicated that mammals and birds exhibiting the subsequent symptoms ought to be reported:

Irritable behavior
Shaking of the head
The smell of decay
Any indication of flies attacking?
Appearance of any fly larvae (maggots) within wounds

What impacts can humans experience from screwworm infestations?

According to the CDC , your likelihood of encountering screwworms increases if:

You reside in remote regions where the New World screwworm is prevalent and where animals for farming are kept.
You often handle farm animals.
You have open sores or injuries.
You have a weakened immune system, you're elderly, or you're dealing with malnutrition.

Should you think you've been impacted or your animals have shown signs of being affected, contact the CDC right away. According to the CDC, the sole method to address this infection is by extracting the larvae from all contaminated tissues.

What methods does the U.S. use to fight screwworms?

Currently, to combat these parasites, the U.S. Department of Agriculture uses aircraft to fly over farms and release sterilized insects. The sterile flies breed with wild screwworms, ultimately eradicating the species.

U.S. Border Patrol and the Mexican government take down cartel observation points.

Rollins seeks collaboration from Mexico regarding flights and has requested the nation to appoint an individual who will collaborate with USDA inspectors to streamline bureaucratic processes.

If the screwworm invades U.S. farms, it could lead to annual losses of millions of dollars for farmers, cautions Buck Wehrbein, president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

The New World Screwworm was mostly eliminated from the U.S. during the 1960s.

From the 1930s through the 1950s, American farmers experienced losses amounting to as much as $100 million annually because of pest invasions.

The New World Screwworm was mostly eliminated from the U.S. by the 1960s and from Central America by the 1980s. However, it has resurged recently.

The detection of screwworms in Mexico occurred in November, leading the USDA to impose a restriction on importing cattle and bison from Mexico until February.

Federal authorities tie a San Elizario woman to numerous incidents of human smuggling.

In her correspondence, Rollins stated, "We have reached a crucial turning point in our collective effort to combat this invasive species... The epidemic in southern Mexico keeps growing larger, and each day lacking the complete implementation of sterile insect technique (SIT) measures signifies a missed chance to curb the spread of this pest and stop its advancement..."

Mexico has up to Wednesday to address the fresh requirements. Failure to resolve this issue may lead to increased beef prices.

Rollins stated, "The USDA plans to limit the import of animal products, including live cattle, bison, and horses coming from or passing through Mexico, in order to safeguard the interests of the U.S. agricultural sector."

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