U.S. suspends importation of live cattle from Mexico over screwworm pest

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The United States volition suspend imports of unrecorded cattle done ports on the confederate borderline with Mexico for astatine slightest 2 weeks to reappraisal the associated strategy successful the combat against the screwworm, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said connected Sunday.

Secretary Brooke Rollins said successful a connection that the screwworm, which is parasite that could beryllium fatal, was precocious detected successful distant farms arsenic acold northbound arsenic Oaxaca and Veracruz, astir 700 miles distant from the U.S. border.

"The extortion of our animals and information of our nation's nutrient proviso is simply a nationalist information contented of the utmost importance," she said successful a statement. "Once we spot accrued surveillance and eradication efforts, and the affirmative results of those actions, we stay committed to opening the borderline for livestock trade. This is not astir authorities oregon punishment of Mexico, alternatively it is astir nutrient and carnal safety."

Mexico's Agriculture Secretary Julio Berdegué said connected societal media that helium had spoken with Rollins, who had informed of the decision.

"We don't hold with this measure, but we're assured we'll scope an statement sooner alternatively than later," Berdegué said.

What is simply a screwworm?

The screwworm is simply a larva of the Cochliomyia hominivorax alert that tin invade the tissues of immoderate warm-blooded animal, including humans. The parasite enters animals' skin, causing terrible harm and lesions that tin beryllium fatal.

The United States stops import of Mexican cattle owed to the beingness of screwworm

Mexico's Health Ministry issued an epidemiological alert this period aft the archetypal quality lawsuit of screwworm myiasis was confirmed connected April 17 successful a 77-year-old pistillate surviving successful the confederate authorities of Chiapas. Also this year, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department issued a informing successful January astir animals that whitethorn been impacted by the unsafe "maneater" parasites.

The U.S. restricted Mexican cattle shipments successful precocious November pursuing the detection of the pest but lifted the prohibition successful February aft protocols were enactment successful spot to measure the animals anterior to introduction into the country.

But determination has been an "unacceptable northward advancement" of the screwworm, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said successful a connection Sunday.

"Additional enactment indispensable beryllium taken to dilatory the bluish progression of this deadly parasitic fly," the connection added.

Over the past 2 years, screwworm has dispersed northbound passim Panama and into Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize, and present Mexico, the section said.