Investing.com -- The USDA reported 243 new cases of New World Screwworm in the week ending April 26, according to Raymond James. This marks an acceleration in weekly cases, which have climbed steadily since early March from the low 100s per week, with weekly increases of 10 to 20 cases, though this week saw an increase of almost 50 new cases compared to the prior week.

The spread of New World Screwworm is moving closer to the U.S. border. A new case was reported this week in Coahuila, which is west of Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas and outside the sterile fly dispersal zone. Active cases continue to increase in states that share a border with Texas, including Tamaulipas with 132 active cases and 48 new cases in the most recent week, and Nuevo Leon with 11 active cases and 3 new cases in the most recent week.

Active cases also continue to rise in Hidalgo with 107 active cases and 56 new in the most recent week, and San Luis Potosi with 146 active cases and 53 new in the most recent week, reflecting continued spread north from Veracruz.

The halt in U.S. cattle imports from Mexico has placed pressure on beef supplies over the last year. Cattle imports from Mexico comprised approximately 4% of total U.S. cattle in 2024. The accelerating spread limits visibility as to when cattle imports may resume, with risks that it could eventually spread to Texas, which could restrict cattle movement and pressure supplies.

U.S. and Mexico officials are working to combat the spread via sterile insect technique, with the U.S. currently dispersing sterile flies from Moore Air Base. Earlier this week, the FDA issued multiple Emergency Use Authorizations for medications used to prevent and treat New World Screwworm. In mid-April, the USDA and Army Corps of Engineers broke ground on a new sterile fly production facility, which is expected to open by the end of 2027.