Mexico bans most U.S. livestock as screwworm cases grow in Texas

After almost a year of the United States banning livestock from Mexico to protect against the New World screwworm, Mexico is now blocking livestock imports from the United States.

The move from Mexico, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, comes as cases of the flesh-eating parasite continue to grow in the United States.

The United States barred cattle from Mexico for most of the last year, as authorities in both countries worked to stop the northward spread of the New World screwworm through Mexico.

Now, Mexico is halting most livestock imports from the United States, including cattle, pigs and sheep. Mexico says the move will protect northern Mexican states where the parasite hasn’t been reported, like the state of Sonora, south of Arizona.

The vast majority of live cattle crossings are from Mexico into the United States.

There have been six confirmed cases of New World screwworm in the United States, largely in south Texas near the border with Mexico.

The ban does not include dogs, but Mexico says Mexican and U.S. authorities have agreed to strengthen inspections for companion dogs crossing from the United States into Mexico.