MEXICO CITY โ On Sunday, Mexicoโs Agriculture Secretary, Julio Berdeguรฉ, announced that the United States will temporarily halt the importation of live cattle from Mexico for a 15-day period. This pause serves as an opportunity to reassess the collaborative efforts against the screwworm pest, a parasitic threat to livestock and humans. Berdeguรฉ shared this update via social media after discussing the matter with Brooke Rollins, his U.S. counterpart. Having been informed of the U.S. decision, Berdeguรฉ expressed Mexicoโs disapproval of the halt but remained hopeful for a prompt resolution.
Previously, in late November, the U.S. imposed similar restrictions following the discovery of the screwworm. This ban was incrementally lifted in February when protocols to scrutinize livestock before their entry into the U.S. were enacted. Nonetheless, the U.S. Department of Agriculture raised alarms about the screwwormโs continued northward spread, deeming it unacceptable. In an official statement released Sunday, they emphasized the need for decisive measures to control the migration of this destructive parasitic fly.
The screwworm, known as the larva of the Cochliomyia hominivorax fly, poses a serious threat to warm-blooded animals, including humans. The larvae can infest the tissue beneath the skin, leading to significant injury and potential fatality. This month, Mexicoโs Health Ministry issued an epidemiological alert after confirming the first human case of screwworm myiasis on April 17. The case involved a 77-year-old woman from the southern state of Chiapas, highlighting the potential public health concerns posed by this parasite.