Rep. Chip Roy (R) is calling for immediate diplomatic action to address the northward spread of the New World Screwworm (NWS). The NWS is a parasite that threatens to devastate the U.S. cattle industry.
In a letter sent to Ambassador Ronald Johnson, the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Rep. Roy urged the use of “all available diplomatic tools” to pressure Mexico into ramping up containment efforts.
“The extensive Texas–Mexico border means that developments in Mexico have a deep impact on Texas and the constituents of the 21st congressional district, whom I represent,” Rep. Roy wrote.
The NWS, which is a flesh-eating parasite, was eradicated in the U.S. decades ago through aggressive programs. However, recent reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) indicate the screwworm has now been detected in the Mexican state of Veracruz, which is 700 miles from the Texas border.
“If an outbreak were to occur in Texas, the USDA estimates it could cause $1.8 billion in damage to the state’s economy - devastating ranchers’ entire livelihoods,” he warned.
Though Mexico has reportedly enacted measures to address the spread of NWS, Rep. Roy argues that the efforts fall far short of what is necessary to combat the NWS.
“Those efforts remain wholly insufficient,” he argued. “My constituents… many of whom rely on ranching for their livelihoods, cannot afford delays.”
Rep. Roy emphasized that a potential outbreak would not only cripple local ranchers but also jeopardize the national food supply. He offered the support of his office to assist Ambassador Johnson in encouraging more aggressive cross-border cooperation.
A recent article from the Atlantic sheds light on the screwworm, informing that the pest eats animals the likes of cows, pigs, dogs, and others alive.
The United States has fought a war against the screwworm for the last 70 years.
