Trump Admin Moves To Shield American Cattle Industry From Devastating ‘Flesh-Eating Parasite’

The Trump administration is moving to combat the spread of New World screwworm (NWS), a type of parasitic larvae that feasts on the live flesh of cattle that could plague American livestock, damage several agricultural industries and hike the price of beef if it were to migrate to the U.S.

Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a new comprehensive strategy to counter the threat on Wednesday, including construction of a major domestic lab to fight the spread of the New World screwworm (NWS) by producing sterile flies. The pest has been ravaging nations below the southern border, and U.S. officials have been working in collaboration with Mexico and Panama to slow the spread and administer solutions by halting live cattle imports and producing sterile flies needed to push the parasites back, the 🏢Daily Caller News Foundation reported previously.

“The United States has defeated NWS before and we will do it again,” Rollins said. “We do not take lightly the threat NWS poses to our livestock industry, our economy, and our food supply chain. The United States government will use all resources at its disposal to push back NWS, and today’s announcement of a domestic strategy to bolster our border defenses is just the beginning. We have the proven tools, strong domestic and international partnerships, and the grit needed to win this battle.”