The U.S. Department of Agriculture has begun gradually reopening Southwest ports to livestock trade more than a year after crossings were suspended because of concerns about New World screwworm.
The port in Douglas, Arizona, reopened Monday. USDA is also preparing to resume livestock crossings at the Santa Teresa and Columbus ports in New Mexico.
The phased reopening follows the detection of a screwworm case in southern Sonora, Mexico, approximately 292 miles from the U.S. border. Despite that case, federal officials say safeguards are in place to reduce the risk of the pest entering the United States.
USDA says all cattle crossing the border will receive comprehensive inspections. The agency has positioned personnel, laboratory support and other resources to monitor livestock and respond to any suspected cases.
Mexican officials have increased surveillance following the Sonora detection and released about 360,000 sterile flies in the affected area. The sterile insect technique is designed to disrupt the screwworm’s reproductive cycle and reduce its population.
USDA is also monitoring thousands of insect traps and dispersing approximately 100 million sterile flies each week in Mexico and Texas as part of an effort to prevent the pest from spreading north.
New World screwworm larvae infest wounds in livestock and other warm-blooded animals, potentially causing serious injury or death if left untreated.
Agriculture officials said the reopening process will continue in phases as they evaluate surveillance information, border safeguards and conditions in Mexico.