US to resume cattle imports from Mexico by end of 2025

USA – The United States is set to lift the suspension on Mexican cattle imports by the end of this year following efforts to contain the spread of the New World screwworm pest in Mexico.

The halt was implemented earlier in May after the pest was found to be spreading north, prompting the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to act over fears it could reach American livestock.

Screwworm flies lay eggs in open wounds of animals, and once hatched, the maggots burrow into flesh, potentially causing severe injury or death to livestock, wildlife, and in rare cases, humans.

According to Rosemary Sifford, the USDA’s chief veterinary officer, the department wants confidence in Mexico’s surveillance systems before trade resumes.

Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of the World Organisation for Animal Health’s annual meeting in Paris, Sifford said imports would resume “definitely before the end of the year,” unless there is a major change in the situation.

So far, the furthest confirmed case of screwworm has been about 700 miles south of the US-Mexico border, with no recent detections further north.

Mexico’s agriculture ministry said a USDA team is expected to visit the country soon to evaluate local efforts in tracking and managing the outbreak.

In addition to screwworm concerns, Sifford addressed the ongoing spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, in US dairy cows.

She indicated that the USDA is aiming to contain the outbreak before the end of the year, describing the timeline as a final target for progress.

Since 2022, the bird flu virus has resulted in the deaths of more than 173 million birds in the US and has affected over 1,000 dairy herds since 2024, USDA records show.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that 70 individuals—mostly farm workers—have tested positive for the virus since 2024.

Sifford explained that new infections in dairy herds are limited to states already grappling with the disease and are largely due to ongoing biosecurity failures.

While a complete halt in new cases this summer remains uncertain, she said there is consistent progress in limiting the virus’s spread.

Poultry cases ease as summer begins

On the poultry front, the USDA expects fewer outbreaks in the coming months, with a decline in cases observed recently.

Sifford noted that infections among poultry flocks are not currently being driven by wild birds, a key transmission factor in previous outbreaks.

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