The livestock border between Mexico and the US is closed again due to a case of screwworm in Veracruz.

WASHINGTON, USA.- The United States Department of Agriculture ordered the immediate closure of the border with Mexico to the trade of live cattle, bison, and horses on Wednesday , following the confirmation of a new case of screwworm in the state of Veracruz.

Brooke Rollins , head of the U.S. agency, explained that the measure seeks to contain the spread of the plague and strengthen health controls in the border region.

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“The United States has pledged to remain vigilant, and after detecting this new case of screwworm, we are pausing planned port reopenings to implement a more comprehensive quarantine to combat this deadly pest in Mexico ,” Rollins said.

The official warned that the reopening of the livestock trade will depend on verifiable progress in the eradication of the screwworm, both in Veracruz and in nearby states.

The announcement comes just two days after the border was partially reopened, following nearly two months of complete closure that resulted in estimated losses of $700 million to Mexican exports , according to data from the Mexican Meat Council. During that period, approximately 650,000 head of cattle were held.

I have ordered an immediate shutdown of live cattle, bison, and horse trade through the southern US–Mexico border.

This decisive action comes after Mexico confirmed another case of New World Screwworm in Veracruz. As promised, @USDA remains vigilant to ensure the protection... https://t.co/7QQSS3tFfd

— Secretary Brooke Rollins (@SecRollins) July 10, 2025

On Monday, the first day of reopening , Mexican producers managed to cross nearly 900 cattle through the border port of Agua Prieta, Sonora, which represented a boost after weeks of inactivity.

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In recent months, the governments of Mexico and the United States have been working together to reactivate the commercial flow of livestock through joint health inspections and investments in inspection infrastructure. However, the new outbreak is once again slowing that process.

The cattle screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) is a pest that threatens animal health and can cause serious economic damage to the livestock sector. The United States was declared pest-free in 1982 and maintains constant surveillance to prevent its reintroduction. Information from Reforma.