APHIS Halts Live Animal Imports Across US Southern Border Again Due to Screwworm

May 21, 2025

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced May 11 the suspension of cattle, horse, and bison imports through ports of entry along the southern border due to the rapid northward spread of New World screwworm (NWS) in Mexico, effective immediately.

Despite continued efforts by the U.S. and Mexico to stop the spread of NWS and eradicate it from Mexico, the flesh-eating parasitic fly has been recently detected in remote farms with minimal cattle movement as far north as Oaxaca and Veracruz, about 700 miles from the U.S. border, according to the USDA announcement.

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in conjunction with Customs and Border Protection (CBP), temporarily suspended livestock imports from Mexico after the latter detected NWS in November 2024. The ban was lifted in February after the U.S. and Mexico agreed to implement a preclearance inspection and treatment protocol to mitigate the threat of NWS.

Click here to see more...

Video: How Aurora Pharmaceutical Became a Leader in Animal Health

Dr. Michael Strobel, Founder and CEO of Aurora Pharmaceutical, discusses the company's remarkable journey from a veterinarian-led startup to a leading developer and manufacturer of animal health solutions.

In this exclusive interview, Dr. Strobel shares how Aurora Pharmaceutical was built around a simple but powerful mission: putting customers, producers, veterinarians, pet owners, and patients first. Learn how the company has grown by focusing on high-quality, science-backed, and cost-effective solutions for livestock, companion animals, and human health markets.

Discover how Aurora's commitment to innovation, affordability, and customer service continues to drive its expansion across swine, cattle, poultry, equine, companion animal, and human health sectors. Dr. Strobel also discusses the importance of understanding real-world challenges facing producers and veterinarians and how Aurora develops practical solutions that improve animal health while supporting producer profitability. Aurora's veterinarian-founded approach, commitment to American manufacturing, and focus on delivering value have helped establish the company as a trusted partner throughout the animal health industry.