US to Reopen Mexican Cattle Border as Screwworm Controls Tighten

The United States will begin reopening its border to Mexican cattle imports on August 24, more than a year after suspending trade over concerns about the spread of the New World screwworm. The first reopening will take place at the Douglas, Arizona, border crossing, with the Santa Teresa and Columbus crossings in New Mexico expected to follow at dates yet to be announced. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said cattle imports will resume under a joint action plan requiring strict compliance and inspections to prevent screwworm larvae from entering the United States. The decision comes despite the parasite being detected in Texas and southeastern New Mexico, where more than 30 cases have been reported. Mexico's outbreak, first detected in November 2024, has spread to 29 of the country's 32 states, with 1,792 active cases reported. The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly larva that attacks warm-blooded animals and can also affect humans. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Mexico will accelerate preparations to resume cattle movements through Sonora and later Chihuahua, where five recent cases have been reported. She described the agreement as an example of cooperation and dialogue between the two countries. The reopening is expected to provide relief to Mexico's livestock industry, which has suffered multimillion-dollar losses during the suspension. However, continued monitoring and coordinated disease-control measures will remain critical as both countries work to balance the resumption of cross-border trade with biosecurity concerns.