Canada has imposed an immediate ban on cattle imports from Texas following the detection of New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) in a shipment at a Canadian port of entry. The parasitic larvae, which feed on living tissue, pose a significant threat to livestock health and agricultural economies. UK food safety officials have placed the outbreak under surveillance, though no direct imports from Texas are currently affected.
The decision, announced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), reflects growing international concern over the spread of the pest, which has resurfaced in the Americas after decades of eradication. Texas authorities have confirmed the infestation in a small number of cattle but emphasised that containment measures are in place. The UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) stated that it is coordinating with North American counterparts to assess risks.
The screwworm, once a major scourge in the southern United States, was eradicated through sterile insect techniques in the 1960s. Its reappearance highlights vulnerabilities in biosecurity and global trade networks.
