New World Screwworm Nears US Border

A devastating parasitic fly, the Cochliomyia, has been detected in a young sheep in Mexico>>>'s Mexico — Coahuila>>> state, just 31 miles from the United States>>> border. This marks the closest the parasite has come to the United States>>> during the current outbreak, raising significant alarm for the US beef industry and cattle producers. Experts warn that if the fly enters the United States>>>, it could cause billions of dollars in economic damage, with an estimated $1.8 billion impact on United States — Texas>>> alone, the largest US cattle-producing state. The US cattle herd is already at its lowest level in 75 years, and Beef>>> prices are at record highs. The United States — United States Department of Agriculture>>> has been working with Mexico>>> to contain the pest, including blocking cattle imports from Mexico>>> for over a year and investing millions in sterile fly production facilities, which are not yet operational. The Cochliomyia larvae burrow into living flesh, feeding and eventually killing warm-blooded animals if left untreated, posing a severe threat to livestock.