Canada has imposed an immediate ban on cattle imports from Texas following an outbreak of screwworm, a parasitic infection that feeds on living flesh. The decision, announced late Tuesday by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, comes after a confirmed case of New World screwworm in a Texas herd. The United Kingdom has issued a food safety alert, urging heightened surveillance of imported beef products.
The ban affects all live cattle shipments from Texas, the second-largest beef-producing state in the United States. Screwworm, the larvae of the Cochliomyia hominivorax fly, burrows into the tissue of warm-blooded animals, causing severe illness and death if untreated. The outbreak is the first in the United States since the pest was eradicated in the 1960s.
Canada’s move reflects a growing anxiety among trading partners over the integrity of North American livestock biosecurity. The UK Food Standards Agency has advised retailers to verify the origin of beef supplies and to report any suspicious products. The ban is likely to disrupt cross-border trade, as Canada imported approximately 75,000 head of cattle from Texas in 2023.
Veterinary experts warn that the parasite could spread rapidly if containment measures fail. The USDA has not yet imposed a federal quarantine but has activated emergency response protocols. The situation underscores the fragility of global food supply chains in the face of invasive species.
