US to reopen border to Mexican cattle imports after screwworm shutdown

The U.S. will initiate a “phased reopening” next month of the country’s southern cattle ports, which were closed in May following the detection of a New World Screwworm (NWS) outbreak, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Friday. 

The USDA will reopen the livestock port in Douglas, Ariz, on Aug. 24. Ports in two New Mexico border cities, Santa Teresa and Columbus, will reopen after this, pending Mexico’s compliance with the Joint Action Plan adopted to address this outbreak. 

All animals entering the U.S. through these ports will be subjected to a “full USDA inspection” for signs of screwworm infection, the department said. 

“Protecting the United States from NWS and pushing this pest out of Mexico and back to the Darien Gap is a top priority at USDA and has the full attention of the Trump........

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