Cattle are held at the Union Ganadera Ciudad Juárez in January of 2025 unable to cross to the U.S. after a temporary halt due to concerns of cattle having screwworms. © Omar Ornelas / El Paso Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
(Fresno, CA) — California health officials are warning of a serious threat to livestock, humans, our food supply, and even national security. It’s a parasitic fly that hasn’t arrived here yet, but it could soon. The so-called screwworms are known to burrow into living flesh, including that of humans. It’s been spreading north from Panama since 2023. Hundreds of people in Mexico have been infested and six have died. Health officials say it’s only a matter of time before the screwworms shows up here. The USDA has released sterile flies in southern Mexico and Central America in hopes of eradicating the pest before it arrives.
The USDA warned Mexico over the summer that it could stop all animal imports into the U.S. due to fear of flesh-eating parasites. The threat was issued by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins in a letter. The U.S and Mexico have set up s pre-clearance and treatment protocol for all animals crossing the border.
