Core Points - Mexico's agriculture department reported a new case of cattle infected with screw-worm larvae, marking the second confirmed case in recent times [1][3] - The infected cattle were intercepted during transport to Nuevo León state, which borders Texas, USA [1] - The Mexican government has implemented guidelines for livestock transport, requiring the use of insecticides 72 hours prior to transport [3] Summary by Sections Recent Cases - The recent case of screw-worm larvae infection was found in Nuevo León, with the first case reported on September 21 in Sabinas Hidalgo [3] - Both cases are located in Nuevo León, but the government stated that they are not related [3] Impact on Trade - Due to concerns over screw-worm larvae infections, the U.S. suspended imports of live cattle from Mexico starting May 11, with a brief resumption in July before halting again due to new cases [3] - If the import ban remains until the end of the year, the Mexican livestock industry could face losses of up to $400 million [3] Disease Background - Screw-worm disease is caused by larvae of the screw-worm fly, which feed on the tissues of warm-blooded animals, potentially leading to severe health issues or death [4] - The disease has historically affected U.S. livestock until eradication efforts in the 1960s and 1970s [4] - There have been no confirmed cases of screw-worm infection in U.S. animals this year, but the spread in Central America and Mexico raises concerns among U.S. livestock producers [4]

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. has suspended imports of live cattle, horses, and bison from the southern border with Mexico due to concerns over the destructive "New World Screw-worm" (NWS) pest, which previously caused significant damage to the cattle industry [1] Group 1: U.S. Actions - The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, announced the immediate suspension of imports to prevent the potential spread of NWS [1] - The last significant NWS infestation took 30 years for the U.S. cattle industry to recover from, highlighting the severity of the threat [1] Group 2: Mexico's Response - Mexico's Secretary of Agriculture, Julio Berdegue, condemned the U.S. action but expressed hope for a swift agreement between the two countries regarding the NWS issue [1] - An agreement had been reached between the U.S. and Mexico the previous month to address the NWS problem [1]