Canada is temporarily banning livestock imports from Texas after a confirmed case of flesh-eating screwworm was found in a calf on a ranch in La Pryor, Texas. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced the restriction on Friday, marking the first such case in the state since the 1960s.
The parasite left a gaping hole around the calf's umbilical cord. The CFIA said animals that originated from or were in Texas within 21 days of arriving at the Canada-U.S. border will not be accepted. While Canada's colder climate is not hospitable for the fly to establish long-term, the agency warned the flies can survive briefly during summer.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster and pledged state funds to accelerate construction of a $750 million sterile fly breeding facility. The plant, originally set for completion by November 2027, now must be operational before next summer. A second facility in Mexico is expected to start production next month. Both facilities will release sterile male flies to mate with wild females, preventing reproduction.