Mexico has confirmed another case of the flesh-eating New World screwworm in Nuevo León, marking the second detection in the northern border state within two weeks.
The infected calf was traced to a herd from southern Mexico and found 60 miles south of Monterrey. Officials said the larvae were already dead or dying due to required antiparasitic treatments. Mexico’s agriculture ministry said the two recent cases are unrelated, the country has reported more than 6,700 screwworm infestations since late 2024 — a major increase over previous years. The U.S. has largely halted cattle imports from Mexico since May in response to the outbreak.
The USDA continues to work with Mexican authorities to prevent the pest from crossing the border. The plan includes building a sterile screwworm facility in Texas, and deploying trained detector dogs and field experts across southern states. While no livestock cases and only one human case have been reported in the U.S., officials urge vigilance.
Photo Credit: National Invasive Species Information Center
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