By Jamie Martin
A new case of New World Screwworm (NWS) was reported in Veracruz, Mexico, just 370 miles from the U.S. border. The case was confirmed by SENASICA, Mexico’s agricultural agency, and lies north of Mexico’s sterile fly dispersal area.
In response, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has stopped its previously announced plan to reopen five livestock ports from July 7 to September 15. The ports had been closed since May 11, 2025, after earlier NWS detections in Veracruz and Oaxaca.
“The United States has promised to be vigilant — and after detecting this new NWS case, we are pausing the planned port reopening’s to further quarantine and target this deadly pest in Mexico. We must see additional progress combatting NWS in Veracruz and other nearby Mexican states in order to reopen livestock ports along the Southern border,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. “Thanks to the aggressive monitoring by USDA staff in the U.S. and in Mexico, we have been able to take quick and decisive action to respond to the spread of this deadly pest.”
To protect U.S. livestock, USDA is enforcing stronger measures. These include stricter animal movement controls, pest surveillance, and continued fly dispersal programs. The agency is also advancing plans for a sterile fly dispersal facility in South Texas and preparing to build a domestic production center to support long-term eradication.
Secretary Rollins' Bold Plan, launched in June, includes border protection, pest control expansion in Mexico, and increased readiness in border states. States like Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona are key partners in these coordinated efforts.
USDA officials will continue inspecting Mexican pest control efforts to ensure safety. The goal is to maintain a pest-free buffer zone and stop the screwworm from threatening American food security and livestock health.
Photo Credit: usda
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