Beef Magazine eports keep coming in of increased New World Screwworm (NWS) cases in northern Mexico. And this too-close-for-comfort activity has U.S. cattle markets and cattlemen on edge. USDA’s APHIS website on Thursday afternoon, January 15th, showed several new cases of NWS in Mexico that cropped up during the week, including six new cases in the state of Tamaulipas.
The Mexican state borders Texas, and reported eight active NWS cases on the 15th. A total of 11 confirmed cases have been reported in Tamaulipas since December 30th. There was even a report (that turned out to be erroneous) on Friday that NWS was discovered in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As cattle markets reacted in lock-step with the news, both fed cattle and feeder cattle futures fell on the bearish media reports.
“When you’re seeing this many cases, this fast, it tells you there may be established (as opposed to transient) screwworm fly populations in Tamaulipas,” said Texas agriculture commissioner Sid Miller in a statement. “Texas producers need to stay on high alert along our border.”