A devastating parasitic fly that eats warm-blooded animals alive has been found in a young sheep in Mexico, just 31 miles (50 km) from the U.S. border, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported on Friday.
This discovery heightens risks for America's beef industry. Cattle producers have feared for over a year that the pest would cross into the U.S. after spreading northward in Mexico.
The New World Screwworm was detected in a six-month-old sheep in Coahuila state. It is the closest the parasite has come to the U.S. during the current outbreak, despite efforts by USDA and Mexico to contain it.
Experts warn that if the fly enters the U.S., it could spike record beef prices by reducing calf supplies. An outbreak could cause $1.8 billion in damage to Texas's economy alone, according to a USDA estimate. Texas is the largest cattle-producing state.
The U.S. cattle herd is at its lowest in 75 years, and beef prices are at record highs. USDA and Mexico's Agriculture Ministry did not immediately comment. Washington has blocked cattle imports from Mexico for over a year.
Female screwworm flies lay eggs in wounds. Larvae use sharp mouths to burrow through flesh, enlarging the wound and killing the host if untreated. USDA has invested millions in sterile fly production facilities, but they are not yet operational.
