Livestock parasite edges closer to U.S.; new case confirmed 70 miles from border

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - The closest confirmed case yet of the New World screw worm has been detected just 70 miles south of the U.S.–Mexico border, sparking new concerns for Kansas’s cattle industry.

Mexican officials confirmed the parasite on Sunday night in the northwest state of Nuevo Leon. Months ago, the U.S. shut down cattle imports from Mexico to prevent the parasite from spreading north, but experts say the screw worm continues to advance toward the border.

The parasite is especially dangerous to livestock. Screw worms are maggots that burrow into the flesh of animals, causing severe and often deadly damage.

The concern comes at a time when cattle numbers are already at their lowest since the 1950s. Any additional threat, producers warn, could push beef prices even higher, accord