CFIA temporarily restricts Texas livestock after screwworm detection

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says it will temporarily restrict livestock from entering Canada from affected parts of the United States after New World screwworm was found on a farm in Texas. Under the new measures, animals including horses that have been in Texas in the past 21 days will not be allowed to cross the border. The agency said it is working with U.S. officials as several American states also introduce precautions to reduce the risk of spread. Screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae can burrow into living tissue, usually in animals and, in rare cases, humans. The parasite had been eliminated from North and Central America, but it has spread among livestock in Mexico since 2024. The CFIA said Canada’s colder climate makes longterm establishment unlikely, while urging animal owners and veterinarians to watch for symptoms and report suspected cases.