Latest news with #APHIS
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Horse Imports Halted At Mexican Border Due To Screwworm
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced the suspension of live cattle, horse, and bison imports through U.S. ports of entry along the southern border due to the continued and rapid northward spread of New World Screwworm (NWS) in Mexico, effective immediately. NWS has been recently detected in remote farms with minimal cattle movement as far north as Oaxaca and Veracruz, about 700 miles away from the U.S. border. The United States and Mexico continue efforts to interdict and eradicate NWS in Mexico and work in good faith. However, despite these efforts and the economic impact on both countries due to this action, there has been unacceptable northward advancement of NWS and additional action must be taken to slow the northern progression of this deadly parasitic fly. As such, effective immediately, the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in conjunction with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will restrict the importation of live animal commodities originating from, or transiting Mexico. This import suspension will persist on a month-by-month basis, until a significant window of containment is achieved. USDA will continue constant collaboration with Mexico, including a review of latest data and metrics in two weeks. Our teams have been in daily communication discussing how we can build on the good work that has been accomplished to improve our strategy toward eradication. Any livestock currently in holding for entry into the United States will be processed normally, this includes an APHIS port Veterinary Medical Officer inspection exam and treatment to ensure they are not carrying NWS. 'The United States has ordered the suspension of livestock imports through ports of entry along our southern border after the continued spread of the New World Screwworm in Mexico. Secretary Berdegué and I have worked closely on the NWS response; however, it is my duty to take all steps within my control to protect the livestock industry in the United States from this devastating pest,' said Secretary Rollins. 'The protection of our animals and safety of our nation's food supply is a national security issue of the utmost importance. Once we see increased surveillance and eradication efforts, and the positive results of those actions, we remain committed to opening the border for livestock trade. This is not about politics or punishment of Mexico, rather it is about food and animal safety.' Effective eradication, which remains our shared goal and best interest of both the U.S. and Mexico, requires a three-pronged approach: robust active field surveillance with education and outreach to ensure prevention, treatment, and early detection; controlled animal movement to limit spread; and sustained sterile insect dispersal. Suspending livestock transport through southern ports of entry will assist in the effort to limit northbound transport of NWS through livestock commerce, and will allow the U.S. to reassess whether current mitigation standards remain sufficient. It is important to note the northward spread of NWS is possible through natural wildlife movements, including wildlife that transit the border region without impediment. USDA is taking all possible actions to monitor for, and limit, the northward movement of NWS, including the utilization of the USDA Tick Riders to monitor livestock and wildlife along the southern border region, between the ports of entry, for the presence of U.S. previously and successfully led the eradication of NWS in the U.S. and Mexico, however this cost billions of dollars and took decades. Unfortunately, these recent detections in Mexico show that this dangerous pest is back and remains a serious threat to the health of our animals, our food supply, and the security of our country. BACKGROUND The first case of NWS in Mexico was reported to the U.S. in November 2024. When NWS fly larvae (maggots) burrow into the flesh of a living animal, they cause serious, often deadly damage to the animal. NWS can infest livestock, pets, wildlife, occasionally birds, and in rare cases, people. In November 2024, after a positive detection of NWS in southern Mexico, USDA shut down the border for live animal trade. In February 2025, USDA resumed imports after APHIS and Mexico agreed to and implemented a comprehensive pre-clearance inspection and treatment protocol to ensure safe movement and steps to mitigate the threat of NWS. Over the last two years, screwworm has spread north throughout Panama and into Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize, and now Mexico. APHIS is releasing sterile flies through aerial and ground release at strategic locations, focusing on Southern Mexico and other areas throughout Central America. A complete list of regions APHIS recognizes as affected by NWS as well as more detailed information on trade restrictions can be found on the USDA APHIS Animal Health Status of Regions website.
New York Post
14-05-2025
- General
- New York Post
Flesh-eating New World Screwworm could pose health risks to cattle, humans
A threat to American livestock – the New World Screwworm (NWS) fly, which has been considered eradicated from the country since 1966 — has reemerged as a potential danger following an outbreak in Mexico. The news triggered a shutdown of cattle, horse and bison imports along the southern border, as U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins announced in an X post on Sunday. Advertisement 'Due to the threat of New World Screwworm I am announcing the suspension of live cattle, horse, & bison imports through U.S. southern border ports of entry effective immediately,' she wrote in the post. 'The last time this devastating pest invaded America, it took 30 years for our cattle industry to recover. This cannot happen again.' What is the New World Screwworm? The NWS is a fly that is endemic in Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and some South American countries, according to the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). While the flies themselves are found in forests and other wooded areas, they will seek hosts like cattle or horses in pastures and fields, per the above source. Advertisement A female fly lays eggs in a wound or orifice of a live, warm-blooded animal. The eggs then hatch into larvae (maggots) that burrow into the flesh, causing potentially deadly damage. An outbreak in Mexico has led to the New World Screwworm (NWS) fly — which was considered eradicated from the U.S. since 1966 — to pose a potential danger to livestock across the country. Rmd17 – Screwworms are named for their maggots' behavior, as they burrow into the flesh similar to how a screw is driven into wood. Advertisement 'Maggots cause extensive damage by tearing at the hosts' tissue with sharp mouth hooks,' according to the APHIS website. This can then enlarge the wound and attract more flies to lay eggs. In rare cases, the larvae can feed on people, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states. These infestations can be very painful and can cause serious, potentially fatal damage to their hosts by causing myiasis, a parasitic infection of fly larvae in human tissue. Advertisement U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins said on X, 'I am announcing the suspension of live cattle, horse, & bison imports through U.S. southern border ports of entry effective immediately.' REUTERS Risk factors and prevention Screwworms are often found in South America and the Caribbean. 'People who travel to these areas, spend time among livestock animals, sleep outdoors and have an open wound are at greater risk of becoming infested with NWS,' says the CDC. People who are immunocompromised, very young or very old, or malnourished are also at a higher risk of infection, the above source stated. Those who have had recent surgery are also at a higher risk, 'as the flies will lay eggs on open sores,' according to the CDC. Potential impact If another outbreak were to occur in the U.S., 'pets, livestock, wildlife and even humans may suffer and die from screwworm myiasis,' the USDA warned. The USDA estimates that livestock producers in the southwestern U.S. lost between $50 million and $100 million annually due to NWS in the 1950s and 1960s until it was successfully eradicated. Advertisement 'Presumably, these higher losses in the Southwest were due to higher livestock populations, larger geographic area and/or greater potential for NWS to overwinter,' stated the report. While the USDA eradicated NWS in 1966, there was an outbreak contained within the Florida Keys in 2016. It affected only in the endangered deer population and was eradicated by March 2017, per APHIS. Greg Wehner contributed reporting.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Flesh-eating New World Screwworm could pose health risks to cattle, humans
A threat to American livestock – the New World Screwworm (NWS) fly, which has been considered eradicated from the country since 1966 — has reemerged as a potential danger following an outbreak in Mexico. The news triggered a shutdown of cattle, horse and bison imports along the southern border, as U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins announced in an X post on Sunday. "Due to the threat of New World Screwworm I am announcing the suspension of live cattle, horse, & bison imports through U.S. southern border ports of entry effective immediately," she wrote in the post. Dangerous Fungus Could Spread To Parts Of Us, Researchers Claim "The last time this devastating pest invaded America, it took 30 years for our cattle industry to recover. This cannot happen again." The NWS is a fly that is endemic in Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and some South American countries, according to the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Read On The Fox News App While the flies themselves are found in forests and other wooded areas, they will seek hosts like cattle or horses in pastures and fields, per the above source. A female fly lays eggs in a wound or orifice of a live, warm-blooded animal. The eggs then hatch into larvae (maggots) that burrow into the flesh, causing potentially deadly damage. Measles Scare At Major Airport: What To Know About Potential Exposure Screwworms are named for their maggots' behavior, as they burrow into the flesh similar to how a screw is driven into wood. For more Health articles, visit "Maggots cause extensive damage by tearing at the hosts' tissue with sharp mouth hooks," according to the APHIS website. This can then enlarge the wound and attract more flies to lay eggs. In rare cases, the larvae can feed on people, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states. These infestations can be very painful and can cause serious, potentially fatal damage to their hosts by causing myiasis, a parasitic infection of fly larvae in human tissue. Screwworms are often found in South America and the Caribbean. "People who travel to these areas, spend time among livestock animals, sleep outdoors and have an open wound are at greater risk of becoming infested with NWS," says the CDC. People who are immunocompromised, very young or very old, or malnourished are also at a higher risk of infection, the above source stated. Those who have had recent surgery are also at a higher risk, "as the flies will lay eggs on open sores," according to the CDC. If another outbreak were to occur in the U.S., "pets, livestock, wildlife and even humans may suffer and die from screwworm myiasis," the USDA warned. The USDA estimates that livestock producers in the southwestern U.S. lost between $50 million and $100 million annually due to NWS in the 1950s and 1960s until it was successfully eradicated. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter "Presumably, these higher losses in the Southwest were due to higher livestock populations, larger geographic area and/or greater potential for NWS to overwinter," stated the report. While the USDA eradicated NWS in 1966, there was an outbreak contained within the Florida Keys in 2016. It affected only in the endangered deer population and was eradicated by March 2017, per APHIS. Greg Wehner contributed article source: Flesh-eating New World Screwworm could pose health risks to cattle, humans
Fox News
13-05-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Flesh-eating New World Screwworm could pose health risks to cattle, humans
A threat to American livestock – the New World Screwworm (NWS) fly, which has been considered eradicated from the country since 1966 — has reemerged as a potential danger following an outbreak in Mexico. The news triggered a shutdown of cattle, horse and bison imports along the southern border, as U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins announced in an X post on Sunday. "Due to the threat of New World Screwworm I am announcing the suspension of live cattle, horse, & bison imports through U.S. southern border ports of entry effective immediately," she wrote in the post. "The last time this devastating pest invaded America, it took 30 years for our cattle industry to recover. This cannot happen again." The NWS is a fly that is endemic in Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and some South American countries, according to the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). While the flies themselves are found in forests and other wooded areas, they will seek hosts like cattle or horses in pastures and fields, per the above source. A female fly lays eggs in a wound or orifice of a live, warm-blooded animal. The eggs then hatch into larvae (maggots) that burrow into the flesh, causing potentially deadly damage. Screwworms are named for their maggots' behavior, as they burrow into the flesh similar to how a screw is driven into wood. For more Health articles, visit "Maggots cause extensive damage by tearing at the hosts' tissue with sharp mouth hooks," according to the APHIS website. This can then enlarge the wound and attract more flies to lay eggs. In rare cases, the larvae can feed on people, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states. These infestations can be very painful and can cause serious, potentially fatal damage to their hosts by causing myiasis, a parasitic infection of fly larvae in human tissue. Screwworms are often found in South America and the Caribbean. "People who travel to these areas, spend time among livestock animals, sleep outdoors and have an open wound are at greater risk of becoming infested with NWS," says the CDC. "Wounds as small as a tick bite may attract a female to feed." People who are immunocompromised, very young or very old, or malnourished are also at a higher risk of infection, the above source stated. Those who have had recent surgery are also at a higher risk, "as the flies will lay eggs on open sores," according to the CDC. If another outbreak were to occur in the U.S., "pets, livestock, wildlife and even humans may suffer and die from screwworm myiasis," the USDA warned. The USDA estimates that livestock producers in the southwestern U.S. lost between $50 million and $100 million annually due to NWS in the 1950s and 1960s until it was successfully eradicated. "Presumably, these higher losses in the Southwest were due to higher livestock populations, larger geographic area and/or greater potential for NWS to overwinter," stated the report. While the USDA eradicated NWS in 1966, there was an outbreak contained within the Florida Keys in 2016. It affected only in the endangered deer population and was eradicated by March 2017, per APHIS. Greg Wehner contributed reporting.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Staff exodus at US farm agency leaves fewer experts to battle bird flu
Washington: Hundreds of veterinarians, support staff and lab workers at the animal health arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture have left under the Trump administration's push for resignations, according to three sources familiar with the situation, leaving fewer specialists to respond to animal disease outbreaks. The departures come as the country battles its longest-ever outbreak of bird flu and faces the encroachment of New World screwworm, a flesh-eating pest detected among cattle in Mexico. "With the decrease in USDA veterinary positions, there is concern that fewer veterinarians will be able to perform ongoing regulatory requirements, disease investigations, and response planning and preparation," Kansas animal health commissioner Justin Smith said. "This could result in slower response times and less responsiveness to local veterinary needs," he added. Egg prices set records this year after bird flu wiped out millions of laying hens. Cases have slowed in recent weeks, though experts warn outbreaks could flare up again during the spring and fall migratory seasons for wild birds that spread the virus. More than 15,000 USDA employees have taken President Donald Trump's financial incentive to quit, about 15% of agency staff, as part of administration efforts spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk to shrink the federal workforce. In that exodus, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the agency that fights livestock diseases and pests that hurt crops, lost 1,377 staff. That represents about 16% of APHIS employees, according to a Reuters analysis of data from the federal Office of Personnel Management. About 400 of those leaving worked in the agency's Veterinary Services arm, representing more than 20% of its 1,850 staff, one source said. That branch works across the U.S. and globally with farmers to test animals for disease and control its spread. The tally includes 13 of the agency's 23 area veterinarians who oversee veterinary work across the country, according to a chart of staff departures seen by Reuters and a source familiar with the situation. Also leaving are 20 per cent-30 per cent of staff at one USDA lab that tests for animal disease like bird flu, a second source said. Those remaining must have all purchases above $10,000 approved by Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, potentially adding up to four weeks of delay, the source said. The USDA did not respond to a request for comment. 'A BIG DEAL' The staff losses threaten APHIS' ability to respond to bird flu, which continues to infect dairy herds and poultry, said three state veterinarians and three other sources. Seventy people, mostly farm workers, have contracted the virus since 2024, and further spread raises the risk that bird flu could become more transmissible to humans, experts say. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the risk to people from bird flu remains low. Among other responsibilities, area veterinarians can support culling of infected poultry flocks and receiving of payments for their losses, said Beth Thompson, South Dakota's state veterinarian. "The federal government, they won't have the number of people to be able to help out the states," said Thompson, who had seen the chart of staff losses. "It's a big deal." Thompson said USDA's chief veterinarian, Rosemary Sifford, told her the agency will determine how to organize the remaining area veterinarians after seeing whether there are further departures. Other APHIS departures include about half of its 69-person legislative and public affairs office, which handles correspondence with members of Congress, external groups and the press, including on issues like bird flu, according to another source. In New Mexico, state workers are assuming additional duties after USDA support staff resigned, state veterinarian Samantha Holeck said. "We won't know the full impacts of these changes immediately," she said. "The important thing is that we work together as a team through all of these challenges."
