# USDA to release flies near US-Mexico border to fight screwworm pest | Reuters

> The USDA will release sterile flies near the US-Mexico border to combat New World screwworm, with the dispersal area extending about 50 miles into Texas. The agency has halted imports of Mexican livestock to keep the pest out.

- Date: 2026-02-02 · published 2026-02-02T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: disease · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/20536-usda-to-release-flies-near-us-mexico-border-to-fight-screwworm-pest-reuters
- Commodities: [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md), [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

The continued import halt tightens feeder cattle supply into US feedlots, supporting cattle prices and adding to beef price pressure.

## Read by commodity

- FCATTLE: bullish ▲
- LCATTLE: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| LCATTLE | 2025-09-22 | [Mexico steps up controls after new screwworm case near US border \| AP News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/22810-mexico-steps-up-controls-after-new-screwworm-case-near-us-border-ap-news.md) | -0.8% | +0.3% |
| LCATTLE | 2026-05-29 | [Flesh-eating screwworm found within 31 miles of US border, says USDA \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/19199-flesh-eating-screwworm-found-within-31-miles-of-us-border-says-usda-reuters.md) | -0.8% | +1.4% |
| LCATTLE | 2025-08-15 | [USDA to build Texas facility to fight flesh-eating screwworms \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/23282-usda-to-build-texas-facility-to-fight-flesh-eating-screwworms-reuters.md) | +1.1% | -0.1% |
| LCATTLE | 2025-04-28 | [Rollins to Mexico: Fight Screwworm Harder or Face New Trade Restrictions](https://feedsoft.ai/events/25083-rollins-to-mexico-fight-screwworm-harder-or-face-new-trade-restrictions.md) | +0.4% | +3.8% |
| LCATTLE | 2023-10-23 | [Mexico boosts controls on cattle after new screwworm case found near US border in Nuevo Leon](https://feedsoft.ai/events/33561-mexico-boosts-controls-on-cattle-after-new-screwworm-case-found-near-us-border.md) | +0.4% | -3.5% |
| FCATTLE | 2025-09-22 | [Mexico steps up controls after new screwworm case near US border \| AP News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/22810-mexico-steps-up-controls-after-new-screwworm-case-near-us-border-ap-news.md) | -0.6% | +3.6% |
| FCATTLE | 2026-05-29 | [Flesh-eating screwworm found within 31 miles of US border, says USDA \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/19199-flesh-eating-screwworm-found-within-31-miles-of-us-border-says-usda-reuters.md) | +0.1% | +4.8% |
| FCATTLE | 2025-04-28 | [Rollins to Mexico: Fight Screwworm Harder or Face New Trade Restrictions](https://feedsoft.ai/events/25083-rollins-to-mexico-fight-screwworm-harder-or-face-new-trade-restrictions.md) | +1.5% | +3.4% |

## Sources

- reuters.com: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/usda-release-flies-near-us-mexico-border-fight-screwworm-pest-2026-02-02/

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.