Flesh-eating screwworm could further push up US beef prices

The New World Screwworm, a parasitic fly that infests and kills livestock by burrowing into their flesh, is spreading north from Central America into Mexico, nearing the US border. This development has prompted the U.S. to halt cattle imports from Mexico, further exacerbating an already low national cattle supply and contributing to record-high beef prices, Reuters said. Screwworms, eradicated in the U.S. in the 1960s through the release of sterilized male flies, are now causing concern due to their potential to spread via infected animals and affect not just livestock but also pets and vulnerable humans. To combat the outbreak, a Panamanian facility is releasing 100 million sterile flies weekly, and the USDA has committed $21 million to convert a Mexican factory for screwworm control. Experts warn that if screwworms enter U.S. herds, it could cost Texas alone $1.8 billion, due to livestock losses and costly treatments. The USDA aims to reopen cattle imports by year's end, but until then, beef prices are likely to remain high, especially during peak summer demand.