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Import Alert: New World Screwworm Restrictions for Live Animal Imports From or Through Mexico
New World Screwworm was detected in southern Mexico recently. This is considered a foreign pest and is a considerable risk to livestock (and other animals) because the larvae of this fly will actually eat living tissue on an animal. USDA originally closed the border ports of entry to livestock importation until they got a better idea of what steps Mexico was taking to control this pest. Mexico, in conjunction with USDA started a surveillance and eradication program and this allowed the border ports to be open again. This week USDA closed border ports once again because screwworm was detected only a few hundred miles from the border. As of now, cattle, bison and horses are not allowed entry through land ports. Horses may fly into the country from Mexico after more extensive screening. Pets are also allowed entry from Mexico. Please be advised to consider screwworm if you find larvae in a wound, and there is a travel history to Mexico. It is technically considered a Foreign Animal Disease if infestation is suspected, so this would need to be reported to USDA and a federal veterinarian will need to take appropriate samples for confirmation of the species.
Click here to read the full alert.
Click here to download an informational brochure about screwworms.
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