Background on the Gusano Barrenador Issue
The governments of Mexico and the United States reached an agreement on Tuesday to allow the resumption of Mexican cattle exports to the US after being suspended for over two weeks due to the spread of the Gusano Barrenador (GBG). The US had previously halted live cattle, horses, and bison imports through its southern border with Mexico in early May because of the Gusano Barrenador plague.
The larvae of the Gusano Barrenador infect open wounds on cattle and other animals, often leading to death within weeks. Although eradicated in the US since 1966, the USDA has warned of the risk of reintroduction.
Key Developments and Actions
- USDA Satisfied with Mexico’s Measures: Brooke Rollins, the USDA Secretary, expressed satisfaction with Mexico’s implemented measures and requested additional time to complete her analysis.
- Mexican Agriculture Secretary Invites USDA Experts: Julio Berdegué, Mexico’s Agriculture Secretary, extended an invitation for a USDA mission of experts to visit Mexico soon to confirm the effectiveness of the GBG campaign on-site.
- New Sterile Fly Production Plant in Chiapas: With US assistance, a new plant for producing sterile GBG flies will be installed in Chiapas. This proposal was initially suggested by Mexico at the start of the crisis in November 2024.
- Decrease in GBG Cases: Berdegué informed his counterpart that the weekly new cases of GBG reached their peak mid-April and have since decreased by 51.8%, demonstrating the effectiveness of ongoing measures.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the Gusano Barrenador? The Gusano Barrenador (GBG) is a parasitic worm that infects open wounds on cattle and other animals, often leading to death within weeks.
- Why were cattle exports suspended? The US halted live cattle, horses, and bison imports through its southern border with Mexico in early May due to the Gusano Barrenador plague.
- What measures have been agreed upon by Mexico and the US? Both countries agreed on measures that would allow the resumption of Mexican cattle exports to the US, including a USDA mission to confirm the effectiveness of Mexico’s GBG campaign.
- What is the new plant for sterile fly production? A new plant will be installed in Chiapas, Mexico, with US assistance, to produce sterile GBG flies as part of the control strategy.
- How effective have the measures been so far? The weekly new cases of GBG have decreased by 51.8% since reaching their peak mid-April, indicating the effectiveness of ongoing measures.
