New Screwworm Case in New Mexico Casts Doubt on Livestock Port Reopening

The U.S. has confirmed a new case of New World screwworm in a New Mexico horse, a development that complicates federal plans to resume livestock imports from Mexico at a key border crossing next week.

New Case Complicates Reopening Plans

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported on Thursday that a horse in Grant County, New Mexico, was infested with the flesh-eating parasite. According to the agency, this marks the second confirmed case in the state since the pest re-emerged in the U.S. from Mexico in June.

The timing of the discovery is critical, as it came just one day after U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced plans to reopen the Santa Teresa, New Mexico, port of entry to livestock trade on September 24. A spokesperson for the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, Jenny Green, said Thursday that it was not immediately clear if the new case would affect the reopening schedule.

Market and Trade Implications

The U.S. originally halted all livestock imports from Mexico last year in an effort to contain the screwworm parasite. This trade suspension contributed to a tighter U.S. cattle supply and helped push beef prices to record highs for American consumers.

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The federal government initiated a phased reopening of trade last month, starting with a port in Arizona. The planned reopening in New Mexico was the next step in normalizing this critical trade flow. Any delays could have further implications for cattle markets and the broader protein supply chain.

Broader Outbreak Concerns

This latest case brings the total number of active screwworm infestations in the U.S. to three, according to the USDA. The other cases include a horse and a dog, both located in Texas near the Mexican border. Officials are reportedly investigating the source of the New Mexico infestation.

Concerns have been growing among officials that smuggled animals could be acting as undetected hosts for the parasite. The U.S. had previously declared screwworm eradicated in the 1960s after a major outbreak killed thousands of animals.