(NewsNation) — Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has warned Mexico she’ll cut off beef imports from Mexico if the country doesn’t step up efforts to stop the spread of a flesh-eating parasite.
In a letter to the Mexican ambassador to the U.S., Rollins threatened to block the importation of live cattle, bison and horses if Mexico doesn’t meet the United States’ demands.
“Time is of the essence… We cannot afford to continue operating at partial strength,” Rollins said in the letter.
What is the New World screwworm parasite?
The New World screwworm is a fly larva that can destroy livestock populations.
It does so by burrowing into a living animal’s flesh, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This can cause serious damage and is often deadly. The parasite typically infests livestock, wildlife, pets and sometimes birds. However, in very rare cases, it can infest people.
The USDA has said that mammals and birds that have the following signs should be reported:
Irritable behavior
Shaking of the head
The smell of decay
Any evidence of a fly strike
Presence of any fly larvae (maggots) in wounds
How can humans be affected by screwworms?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you are at a higher risk of being affected by screwworms if:
You live in rural areas where the New World screwworm is endemic and where livestock is raised
You work with livestock frequently
You have open sores or wounds
You are immunocompromised, of an older age or experiencing malnutrition
If you believe you have been affected or your livestock has been affected, you should report it to the CDC immediately. The CDC said the only way to treat the infection is to remove the larvae from any infected tissue.
How does US combat screwworms parasites?
To combat these parasites, the Department of Agriculture uses aircraft to fly over farms and release sterilized insects. The sterile flies breed with wild screwworms, with a goal of ultimately eradicating the species.
Border Patrol, Mexican government dismantle cartel lookout posts
Rollins wants cooperation from Mexico on flights and has asked the country to designate a point person to work with USDA inspectors to cut through red tape.
If the screwworm reaches U.S. farms, it could cost farmers millions of dollars annually, Buck Wehrbein, president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, warns.
New World screwworm largely eradicated from US in 1960s
Between the 1930s and 1950s, U.S. farmers lost up to $100 million yearly due to infestations.
The New World screwworm was largely eradicated in the U.S. by the 1960s and in Central America in the 1980s. It has made a comeback in recent years.
The screwworm was detected in Mexico in November, prompting the USDA to ban cattle and bison imports from Mexico until February.
Feds link San Eli woman to multiple migrant-smuggling events
In her letter, Rollins said, “We are now at a critical inflection point in our shared campaign against this pest… the outbreak in southern Mexico continues to expand, and every day that passes without full deployment of sterile insect technique (SIT) operations represents a lost opportunity to contain this pest and prevent its spread…”
Mexico has until Wednesday to respond to the demands. If the problem is not resolved, beef prices could increase.
“USDA will restrict the importation of animal commodities, which consist of live cattle, bison, and equine originating from or transiting Mexico to protect the interest of the agriculture industry in the United States,” Rollins said.
