The USDA reportedly warned that Mexico would halt imports of all living animals unless the country implements stronger measures to stop the spread of carnivorous parasites north.
Agriculture Secretary Brook Rollins issued a scathing letter on Saturday from her Mexican counterpart, threatening to block the import of live cows, bison and horses if the government fails to fight the spread of new world screw bugs by April 30. This was reported by Fox News.
“We are currently at a critical inflection point in this shared campaign against pests. I am very concerned about our collaboration,” the letter Fox received said.
“The outbreak in southern Mexico continues to expand, and every day passing without fully deploying the manipulation of Sterile Insect Technology (SIT) represents a lack of opportunity to contain this pest and prevent its spread beyond the isthmus of Tehantepec.”
Screwworms are primarily targeted at the periphery of fresh wounds of birds, deer and humans, which deposit hundreds of eggs hatching into meat-eating maggots, as well as birds, deer and humans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
When hatched, the larvae invade the bloodstream, causing a highly painful condition called myasis, which consumes the host from within.
Rollins has shown that Mexican customs officials are leviing import duties that costly on critical supplies, including sterile fly, aviation parts and dispersing equipment, indicating that aviation authorities are also limiting the critical operations needed to prevent lurking pests from moving across the border.
“We don’t understand how official efforts to stop common pests can be subject to such a burdensome tariff,” she imposed a letter to Mexico’s agricultural secretary, Giulio Verdegu Sacristan.
“These delays and costs not only disrupt operations, they risk delaying aircraft deployment at the exact moment when prompt action is most needed.”
She urged the Mexican government to install immediate operational aviation clearance, full mandatory exemptions on all emergency equipment and a high-level liaison expedited solution.
Rollins warned, “Time is the essence.”
“The delay in granting a full operating agency and custom barrier for elimination is a nuisance of our collective ability to carry out this emergency response. We cannot afford to continue operations with partial strength,” Rollins said.
“If these issues are not resolved by Wednesday, April 30th, the USDA must inform you that it will restrict the importation of live cattle, bison, or animal goods transported to horses or horses transported to Mexico, or to protect the interests of the US agricultural industry.”
