Prevention

Secretary Rollins takes decisive action and shuts down cattle, bison and equine trade due to further northward spread of the devastating pest in Mexico.

NCBA’s Woodall says the goal is complete eradication — not just from the U.S., but from Mexico and Central America, ultimately pushing the fly back to its original range in South America.

The tiny, annoying pest can wreak $6 billion in losses annually to U.S. cattle production due to decreased weight gain or milk production, veterinary needs and control measures.

With food recalls skyrocketing, one might find it hard to discern whether they’re reading a current USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service report or a chapter straight out of Upton Sinclair’s 1906 novel “The Jungle.”

Outgoing USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack sent a letter to Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture acknowledging the progress made in reopening cattle trade between the two countries following the detection of New World Screwworm, but says more action is needed to resume trade.

USDA announced on Oct. 30 the first reported case of H5N1 in a pig in an Oregon backyard farm.