A deadly, flesh-eating parasite has infected six people in the south of Mexico, as northern Mexican states and U.S. officials bolster measures to prevent the pest from moving north.
Earlier this month, U.S. Department of Agriculture Sec. Brooke Rollins announced the U.S. would again close the border to cattle crossing from Mexico. That restriction remains in place, and the USDA will evaluate the suspension every 30 days.
Mexico is also launching a new strategy that includes increased animal inspections in five northern states, including Sonora, that export cattle to the U.S. to keep the parasite from spreading further.
The USDA also announced Tuesday that they will invest $21 million to renovate a fruit fly production facility on the Mexico-Guatemala border. When the renovation is complete, the facility will produce 60 million-100 million additional sterile New World Screwworm flies in an attempt to contain the spread, according to a statement from USDA.
The New World Screwworm was first detected in a cow in southern Mexico in November, leading to a monthslong shutdown of the U.S.-Mexico border to cattle. During the shutdown, U.S. and Mexican officials worked on new protocols to prevent the spread of the parasite.
Mexico’s health secretary has confirmed the flesh eating fly larva has spread to six people in his country.
