The United States has suspended all live animal imports from Mexico indefinitely due to the threat posed by the New World Screwworm (NWS), a parasitic fly that was eradicated from the U.S. in 1966. The flies are known for laying eggs on open wounds of warm-blooded animals, with larvae (maggots) hatching within hours and burrowing into the flesh to feed, causing significant damage. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the import ban following recent detections of NWS in remote areas of Mexico, approximately 700 miles from the U.S. border. This suspension will be reevaluated monthly.
Adult New World Screwworms resemble houseflies, featuring orange eyes and metallic blue-green bodies with dark stripes. A female can lay up to 3,000 eggs during her life. Typically found in forests, they are attracted to open wounds as small as a tick bite. Signs of infestation in animals include irritation, foul odors, and visible maggots in wounds. Although rare, humans can also be affected if they are in regions where NWS exists, potentially leading to severe wounds and infections.
The NWS was first identified as a significant issue in the U.S. in 1933, following the importation of infested livestock. The successful eradication strategy involved the Sterile Insect Technique, which used radiation to sterilize male flies, leading to a decline in the population. This initiative cost approximately $32 million and took until 1966 to effectively eliminate the parasite from the country. Current efforts to protect U.S. livestock from the NWS include strict import regulations and monitoring.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image of the presented article.
