The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the USDA has added Guatemala and Honduras to its list of regions affected by screwworm as of late 2024. This decision follows reports of screwworm outbreaks in livestock, including cattle and swine, in these countries. As a result, strict import restrictions on horses, ruminants, swine, and dogs from Guatemala and Honduras will be enforced to prevent the spread of screwworm into the United States. These measures are part of APHIS's efforts to protect U.S. livestock from communicable diseases.
Simple Explanation
In 2024, it was found that a yucky bug called screwworm was bothering animals like cows and pigs in Guatemala and Honduras. So the people who take care of animal safety decided to be extra careful and stop animals like horses and dogs from those places from coming into the U.S. to keep everyone healthy.