Mexico's Meat Industry Faces Tough New Rules to Fight Screwworm

Mexico's meat industry is in a tough spot. New rules are making it harder to move livestock around the country. This is because of a nasty parasite called the screwworm. It eats flesh and can kill animals if not treated. The meat industry says these rules threaten their business. In 2024, they made $192 billion. But now, they have to give their cattle a drug called ivermectin before moving them. This drug must be given 72 hours before any movement. And it has to be supervised by special health workers. The U. S. is also involved in this issue. They blame Mexico for not controlling the screwworm outbreak. The U. S. has kept its border mostly closed to Mexican cattle since May. They are worried the screwworm could spread to their country. Mexico is trying to fight the screwworm. They have fly traps to monitor the pest. But the U. S. says Mexico is not doing enough. They want Mexico to stop moving livestock from the south to the north. The Mexican government says they are working on new measures. But they also say it's not easy to restrict livestock movement. The meat industry agrees. They say the new rules are causing delays and problems. The screwworm outbreak started in Central America. It has been moving northwards. If it reaches the U. S. , it could cost billions of dollars. Both countries are trying to stop this from happening.