Smuggling of Animals from Mexico Threatens US with Flesh-Eating Parasite
A Reuters investigation reveals ongoing illegal animal smuggling across the US-Mexico border, bypassing veterinary checks. Authorities fear the spread of the deadly New World screwworm parasite.
An investigation by the Reuters news agency published on Saturday reveals that the smuggling of horses and other animals from Mexico into the United States continues along the border, bypassing veterinary inspections, health certificates, and quarantine periods required by US law.
Authorities fear that illegally transported animals could facilitate the spread of a flesh-eating parasite known as the New World screwworm, which feeds on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals.
Border Incidents and Scale of Smuggling
In late May, police officers near the town of Redford, Texas, intercepted a trailer carrying six horses that had crossed the Rio Grande from Mexico illegally. While these horses were not infected with the parasite, the case illustrated the difficulty authorities face in monitoring animal transport in isolated border areas.
In Presidio County, Texas, more than 50 smuggled horses have been seized over the past two years. According to investigators, smuggled horses can be sold on the black market for at least $30,000 each, allowing smugglers to bypass taxes, paperwork, and veterinary inspection fees.
Resurgence of the Parasite
The parasite has already been detected in US cattle this year, after being absent from the country for decades. According to Reuters, authorities have confirmed 48 cases in the country so far, but experts fear the actual number is higher, partly because smuggled animals undergo no testing.
Experts warn that infected animals can transmit the parasite over much greater distances than it would naturally reach. In Mexico, more than 2,000 cases of the parasite in horses have been diagnosed since the outbreak began in 2024.
Beyond Horses
The concern is not limited to horses. According to Reuters, US authorities in recent years have also intercepted dogs used for illegal dogfighting, cattle, and exotic animals, including monkeys, bears, and tigers, as part of smuggling operations along the border.
Threat to Animals and Humans
While the primary concern highlighted by the Reuters investigation is the danger of an outbreak among livestock, the parasite is also dangerous to humans.
The parasite operates when a fly lays eggs on wounds or damaged skin. Once hatched, the larvae burrow into living tissue and feed on it, causing severe wounds and infections. In severe cases, the infection can be life-threatening.
