Flesh-eating screwworms in cattle may further raise US beef prices

New World Screwworm, a harmful parasite, is advancing from Central America into Mexico, bypassing barriers that had contained it for years. This has led to the U.S. halting cattle imports from Mexico, which may drive beef prices higher due to reduced supply.

Screwworms lay eggs in the wounds of warm-blooded animals, causing severe damage and risking the host's life. They were eradicated in the U.S. decades ago through a sterilization program. Workers raised screwworms in factories, blasted them with radiation until they were sterile, and dropped the sterile adult screwworms by the millions—even hundreds of millions—weekly over the U.S.

To combat the outbreak, a factory in Panama releases 100 million sterile flies weekly. The USDA plans to invest $21 million to enhance efforts in Mexico. Experts warn that a U.S. outbreak could be disastrous for cattle ranchers and consumers alike, with potential costs reaching $1.8 billion.