New World screwworm is raising new concerns at the southern border as officials work to stop the flesh-eating parasite from spreading deeper into the U.S. The article points to challenges around cartel-linked cattle smuggling, fake ear tags, falsified veterinary records, and inspection gaps that could make it harder to detect infected animals before they move north. New World screwworm has already been confirmed in Texas, and the parasite can cause serious harm to livestock, pets, wildlife, and, less commonly, people.
Why This Matters:
Containing a livestock threat depends on catching it early and stopping infected animals from moving. When cattle smuggling, falsified records, or inspection gaps enter the picture, ranchers can face more risk, higher costs, and tighter restrictions on cattle movement. With beef prices already high, another threat to herds could add more strain to availability and cost. For households, it is another reminder that food supply issues can start long before they reach the grocery store.
Read the full article here.
Source: Fox News
By: Selene Rodriguez and Ammon Blair
