THE US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said Friday it had detected a second case of a dangerous livestock pest in Texas, while Canada introduced a temporary ban on livestock from the state. The new incidence of the New World screwworm (NWS), whose flesh-eating larvae can kill cattle, was detected in a calf in south Texas about 5.5 miles (nine kilometres) from the first one, which was reported Thursday, the department said on X.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a “statewide disaster declaration” later Friday, as authorities scrambled to keep the pest from spreading.
Texas has established a 12-mile quarantine zone, meaning all warm-blooded animals including pets must be inspected before leaving the area. Canada temporarily banned any livestock that had been in Texas in the past 21 days from entering the country, its Food Inspection Agency said in a news release. — AFP