Mexico has seen a nearly 32% rise in confirmed cases of flesh-eating screwworms, according to a monthly government data report obtained by Reuters. The findings come as a screwworm case was recently confirmed in a cow just 70 miles from the U.S. border, marking the closest confirmed cases to the United States this year.
A spreading problem
Mexico reported more than 6,700 cases of animals infected with the parasite as of Sept. 13 since the outbreak began in November 2024. That’s compared to nearly 5,100 cases confirmed during the previous data set, which concluded on Aug. 17.
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Information from the report shows that the infections are beginning to pop up further north throughout Mexico, according to Reuters. The vast majority of cases have been confirmed in cattle.
The development sparked concerns among the global community, including officials in Texas and across the southern border. The Texas Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have announced mitigation measures, while agricultural officials in the Lone Star State urge pet and livestock owners to be proactive in checking animals for signs of potential infestation.
Screwworms were eradicated from the United States after the 1960s, only to reemerge in the 1970s and be eliminated from the country once again.
The emergence of screwworm in Mexico has raised concerns among farmers and has forced U.S. authorities to restrict some cattle exports, causing the price of beef to rise.
Officials say that the approach of the screwworms toward the United States underscores the need for an emergency response before they reach U.S. livestock.
