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The New World screw-worm fly is migrating northwards from Mexico towards the USA. The US government wanted to combat it early on, but was hindered by Mexico. The dispute had to escalate again before being resolved.
The New World screw-worm fly from Mexico is migrating northwards towards the USA. The US government wanted to combat it early on but was hindered by Mexico. The dispute had to escalate again.
In the USA, the parasitic New World screw-worm fly (Cochliomyia hominivorax) is causing trouble. The livestock industry is sounding the alarm. Coming from Mexico, the fly is spreading northwards. Its larvae burrow into the flesh of cattle, often causing deadly wounds.
Buck Wehrbein, President of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) and a rancher from eastern Nebraska, praised Trump's Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins for her vigorous approach against the fly.
"If this screw-worm makes its way to the United States, it could destroy our industry," he said. "These parasites literally eat livestock alive. We eradicated them in the USA in the 1960s and we will not allow them to spread here again."
Rinderimport aus Mexiko gestoppt
According to Wehrbein, the US government had spent millions of dollars decades ago to eradicate the New World screw-worm, only to find out that the pest reappeared in Central America and spread northwards towards Texas.
The screw-worm was first discovered in southern Mexico at the end of last year. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) then temporarily stopped the import of Mexican cattle from the end of November to February after a case of screw-worm was reported in Chiapas.
Sterile male flies released
Currently, US agricultural authorities are working tirelessly to establish a final barrier against the flesh-eating fly before it reaches the border. For decades, the USA and Mexico have been using a sophisticated Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) program, where millions of sterile male flies are released from airplanes to control the populations of screw-worms.
However, this strategy is allegedly being hindered by bureaucratic interventions from Mexican authorities, as reported by Fox News. According to US officials, the authorities have blocked and delayed important release actions.
Mexico has not fulfilled promises
According to the US Department of Agriculture and representatives of the livestock industry, Mexico did not fulfill its part of the bilateral eradication efforts by denying landing permits, imposing import duties on equipment funded by the USA, and restricting fly releases to six days a week. These conditions reportedly allowed further spread of the pest.
Wehrbein does not hide his frustration. "We have been pulling our hair out," he said. Science can stop this virus, but not when the planes are grounded due to paperwork. Every day of delay gives the screw-worm a stronger hold.
In a letter dated April 26, seen by Fox News, Minister Rollins gave Mexico until April 30 to resolve the issues. Otherwise, there could be an import ban on live cattle, bison, and horses. This step would deal a heavy blow to the Mexican livestock industry and further strain the already pressured US supply chains.
"It definitely got their attention," notes Wehrbein. No one wants to halt trade. That would be a last resort and would harm producers on both sides. But Minister Rollins and President Trump have made it clear that protecting American livestock is a top priority.
Livestock breeders on both sides of the border want to combat the flies
Wehrbein says the NCBA met with high-ranking officials from the Mexican Embassy in Washington last week to emphasize the urgency.
"Livestock breeders in Mexico and the USA are on the same side here. We need to stop this plague," says Wehrbein. "Massive threats should not be necessary to achieve reasonable cooperation."
On Tuesday, Rollins posted on X that Mexico had agreed to allow US planes to land, calling it "a huge victory for our American livestock breeders!"
Stay on the ball now
Wehrbein welcomes the announcement, marking a turning point, but not the end of the threat. "It is absolutely crucial that the planes take off again. It's a relief that Mexico is finally doing the right thing," he says. Honestly, it should never have taken this long. But now we at least have a real chance to contain the outbreak before it reaches our border."
What about the tariffs?
While flight permits are apparently being reinstated, it remains unclear whether Mexico will waive import duties or allow a seven-day operation, as requested by the US Department of Agriculture. Rollins also called for a high-level liaison from the Mexican government to ensure faster coordination in the future.
In the longer term, according to Wehrbein, the USA needs to reconsider to what extent it relies on external partners for biosecurity. "This situation shows why we need our own domestic supply of sterile flies," he said. "If we had a facility here at home that produced these products in large quantities, we would not be dependent on cooperation with another country."
