Texas cattle are no longer welcome in Canada, and this time, it’s not because of a trade dispute.
What happened: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) temporarily restricted the import of livestock from parts of the U.S. affected by an outbreak of New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite that threatens to inflict major economic losses on the beef industry.
The parasite causes an infection that often kills livestock within two weeks if left untreated. It can also infect and kill humans, but the fatality rate is significantly lower.
Two cases of the parasite have been identified in Texas so far, the first seen in the U.S. since the 1960s, when it was successfully eradicated after plaguing ranchers for decades.
Why it matters: If screwworm spreads, it could lead to culls that further thin out already small cattle herds, resulting in higher beef prices for consumers.
Just because screwworm doesn’t survive Canadian winters doesn’t mean we won’t be affected. Canada is the largest buyer of U.S. livestock exports, and a supply crunch will translate into higher prices at the supermarket for Canadians, too.
What’s next: U.S. officials said they are releasing sterile screwworm flies in the affected area as a way to collapse the parasite’s population, but experts say not enough flies can be produced to respond effectively and Texas Governor Greg Abbott conceded that screwworm is “likely to spread over the course of the summer.”—TS
