Flood-battered Texas braces for another blow: a fast-moving, flesh-eating parasite from Mexico

Brandon Bell/Getty ImagesThe U

Has closed its southern border again to stock imports, saying a flesh-eating parasite has moved further north in Mexico than previously reported

Mexico’s president was critical Thursday, suggesting that the U

Is exaggerating the threat to its beef industry from the parasite, the New World screwworm fly

The female flies lay eggs in wounds on warm-blooded animals, hatching larvae that are unusual among flies for ing on flesh and fluids instead of dead material

American officials worry that if the fly reaches Texas, its flesh-eating maggots could cause large economic losses, something that happened decades ago

Closed its southern border in May to imports of cattle, horses and bison but announced June 30 that it would allow three ports of entry to reopen this month and another two by Sept

However, since then, an infestation from the fly has been reported 185 miles (298 kilometers) northeast of Mexico City, 160 miles (258 kilometers) further north than previously reported cases

Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in a statement Wednesday announcing the border closing. “Thanks to the aggressive monitoring by USDA staff in the U

And in Mexico, we have been able to take quick and decisive action to respond to the spread of this deadly pest. ” In Mexico, President Claudia Sheinbaum said authorities there were ing all established tocols to deal with the northernmost case

Mexican authorities said the country has 392 infected animals, down nearly 19% since June 24. “From our point of view, they took a totally exaggerated decision to closing the border again,” Sheinbaum said. “Everything that scientifically should be done is being done. ” Three weeks ago, Rollins announced plans for combating the parasite that include spending nearly $30 million on new sites for breeding and dispersing sterile male flies

Once released in the wild, those males would mate with females, causing them to lay eggs that won’t hatch so that the fly population would die out

The agency also plans to open a site in southern Texas for holding sterile flies imported from Panama, so they can be released along the border if necessary

Tony Gonzalez, of Texas, and Kat McCammack, of Florida, urged the Trump administration to quickly apve the use of existing anti-parasite treatments for New World screwworm fly infestations in stock

They said labeling requirements currently prevent it

Explore this year's list.