Canada bans Texas cattle over flesh-eating screwworm outbreak in US
Summary
Canada has temporarily stopped accepting cattle and horses from Texas because of a parasite outbreak called flesh-eating screwworms found in calves there. The parasite is dangerous as its larvae burrow into the flesh of animals, and Texas has declared a state of disaster to fight its spread.Key Facts
- Canada banned livestock from Texas if they were there within 21 days before crossing the border.
- The flesh-eating screwworm parasite was found in two calves in Texas, near the Mexico border.
- Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster due to the threat to agriculture.
- The screwworm parasite lays eggs in open wounds; larvae burrow into flesh, causing severe damage or death if untreated.
- The parasite was eradicated in the US in 1966 but has reappeared recently, moving through Central America and Mexico.
- The US is planning to release sterile genetically modified flies and use sniffer dogs to control the outbreak.
- Canada said the parasite is unlikely to spread there due to the colder climate but warned farmers and pet owners to watch for wounds.
- The US and Canada have a significant cattle trade, with 550,000 cattle imported from the US to Canada in 2025.
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