# Mexico resumes livestock exports to US via Sonora > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/mexico-fights-gusano-barrenador-outbreak > Updated: 2026-09-02T16:37:37.000Z. Sources: 130. Developments: 16. Mexico’s sterile-fly campaign against the New World screwworm continues to expand. After releasing 2.5 million sterile flies in Parral, the program added 10,000 traps and intensified vehicle inspections in Puebla, training over 6,400 personnel and distributing leaflets. Parallel state-level drives in Aguascalientes, Tamaulipas and other regions hold preventive workshops, install sanitary fences and provide limited federal aid. A national eradication effort launched in late June, coordinated by the State Secretariat for Rural Development and Water Resources, treated 147 active cases across San Luis Potosí and shifted Coahuila from containment to eradication, citing the upcoming inauguration of the Metapa sterile-fly plant and a larger Texas facility. In July, Tamaulipas began free distribution of the anti-barrenador drug Exzolt, cutting active cases in several towns, while Monclova in Coahuila joined the aerial sterile-fly releases. Recent efforts include a door-to-door prevention campaign in Huajuapan, Oaxaca, where veterinarians deworm pets and livestock. The Metapa plant in Chiapas is now operational, part of a binational project aiming to release up to 100 million sterile flies weekly by late 2026. Following a yearlong ban due to the parasite, which has reached 30 of Mexico’s 32 states, the United States is set to resume livestock imports from Mexico starting 24 August at the Douglas, Arizona, border crossing. This marks the first step in a gradual resumption of trade, with Sonora leading the restart while Coahuila and Chihuahua prepare to rejoin. The outbreak, which began in November 2024, has seen 1,969 active cases reported. The trade disruption has caused significant economic shifts: Mexico faces a domestic beef oversupply of approximately 500,000 tons, while the U.S. has seen beef prices rise by 22.4 percent. To prevent further spread, shipments will be subject to strict controls, as the parasite has already been detected in Texas and New Mexico. ## Claims - The Chiapas sterile‑fly plant is operational and aims to produce 28 million flies per week initially, scaling to 100 million by late 2026. (disputed by 10 sources) - The cattle‑export suspension caused economic losses exceeding $1 billion. (disputed by 5 sources) - The Mexican sterile‑fly production facility in Metapa, Chiapas, aims to produce 100 million flies per day by the end of 2026. (disputed by 2 sources) - The closure caused Mexico to lose about US$550 million in cattle‑export revenue. (disputed by 2 sources) - US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins sent a letter to President Sheinbaum confirming the cattle import reopening. (corroborated by 13 sources) - Mexico has resumed live cattle exports to the United States through the Agua Prieta, Sonora border crossing. (corroborated by 13 sources) - The reopening will begin at the Agua Prieta quarantine station. (corroborated by 11 sources) - The sterile fly release will be carried out from north to south across Mexico. (corroborated by 10 sources) - Mexico will begin releasing sterile flies within two weeks to combat the New World screwworm. (corroborated by 9 sources) - The sterile‑fly program is part of a trilateral agreement among Mexico, the United States and Panama. (corroborated by 9 sources) - USDA will reopen the Douglas, Arizona cattle port on 24 August 2026, followed by Santa Teresa and Columbus, New Mexico. (corroborated by 7 sources) - Sonora is reopening its border with the United States for cattle exports. (corroborated by 7 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-02: Livestock exports from Sonora to US delayed until September 8 Livestock exports from Agua Prieta, Sonora, to the US are suspended until September 8 due to technical issues with inspection equipment at the quarantine station. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/livestock-exports-from-sonora-to-us-delayed-until-september-8 ### 2026-08-28: USDA implements new protocol for Mexican cattle entering the U.S The USDA has implemented a three-stage inspection and treatment protocol to allow Mexican cattle to resume crossing into the U.S. via Arizona following a long-term ban due to New World screwworm concerns. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/usda-implements-new-protocol-for-mexican-cattle-entering-the-us ### 2026-08-22: Mexico resumes cattle exports to U.S. via Sonora border Mexico has resumed live cattle exports to the U.S. via Agua Prieta, Sonora, using enhanced traceability and sterile fly dispersal to control the screwworm pest. 21 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sonora-resumes-cattle-exports-to-the-us-via-agua-prieta ### 2026-08-17: Mexico cattle exports to US to resume gradually following screwworm outbreak Mexican cattle exports to the US will begin a gradual restart on August 24 via Sonora, following sanitary restrictions caused by a screwworm outbreak that impacted both Mexican supply and US beef prices. 16 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexico-us-beef-trade-disrupted-by-livestock-border-restrictions ### 2026-08-01: USDA to Reopen Douglas, Arizona Cattle Port Amid New World Screwworm Control USDA will reopen the Douglas, AZ cattle port on Aug 24 after successful control of the New World Screwworm, with full inspections and cooperation from Mexico. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/usda-to-reopen-douglas-arizona-cattle-port-amid-new-world-screwworm-control ### 2026-07-31: US-Mexico cattle crossing at Santa Teresa set to reopen USDA plans to reopen the Santa Teresa cattle crossing by late September, ending a year‑long shutdown that hurt trade worth billions and cost many jobs. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-mexico-cattle-crossing-at-santa-teresa-set-to-reopen ### 2026-07-29: USDA Reopens Arizona Cattle Border and Funds Sterile‑Fly Facility to Combat Screwworm USDA will reopen Arizona’s Douglas crossing to Mexican cattle on Aug 24 and spend $25 M on a sterile‑fly facility to control New World screwworm, after the closure helped drive record US beef prices. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/usda-allocates-25-million-for-arizona-screwwormcontrol-facility ### 2026-07-27: Chihuahua cattle union outlines border reopening rules as worm spreads UGRCH chief Álvaro Bustillos Fuentes urges Chihuahua ranchers to follow official updates on the cattle worm and border reopening, promising transparent export rules once the pest stays beyond 300 km of the US ‑ 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chihuahua-cattle-union-outlines-border-reopening-rules-as-worm-spreads ### 2026-07-27: US-Mexico cattle export border reopens after screwworm eradication effort Live‑cattle exports to the U.S. will restart on 24 Aug 2026 after a screwworm‑eradication plan, ending a suspension that cost Mexico $550 M and halted $7 B of U.S. beef processing. 43 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexico-to-gradually-reopen-border-for-cattle-exports-to-united-states ### 2026-07-25: Mexico to Resume Cattle Exports to US as Sterile Fly Program Launches Mexico will resume live cattle exports to the US in late August 2026 as USDA reopens key ports, while the government launches a sterile‑fly release program to combat the screwworm. 42 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexico-and-united-states-to-reopen-cattle-trade-at-agua-prieta-in-august ### 2026-07-16: Mexico Advances Campaign to Eradicate Cattle Worm Pest and Ensure Food Safety Mexico's agriculture ministry and CNA pledged intensified actions, funding and technology to eradicate the cattle worm pest, safeguarding livestock and food safety for over 130 million people. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexico-advances-campaign-to-eradicate-cattle-worm-pest-and-ensure-food-safety ### 2026-07-13: Mexico's Sefader conducts house‑to‑house campaign against gusano barrenador in Huajuapan Sefader’s door‑to‑door campaign in Huajuapan, Oaxaca, deworms animals and educates residents to fight the gusano barrenador, linked to a new Mexico‑US sterile‑fly plant releasing 100 million flies weekly. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexicos-sefader-conducts-housetohouse-campaign-against-gusano-barrenador-in-huajuapan ### 2026-07-02: Mexico expands anti‑barrenador campaign with free Exzolt drug and sterile‑fly aerial releases Mexico’s Tamaulipas state gives free Exzolt medication to cattle producers, while Monclova joins a national sterile‑fly aerial program, together aiming to curb the barrenador worm outbreak. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexico-expands-antibarrenador-campaign-with-free-exzolt-drug-and-sterilefly-aerial-releases ### 2026-06-26: Mexico launches national campaign to eradicate cattle worm (gusano barrenador) Mexico intensifies cattle‑worm control in San Luis Potosí and launches a federal‑state campaign, with new sterile‑fly plants and U.S. cooperation to eradicate the pest. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexico-launches-national-campaign-to-eradicate-cattle-worm-gusano-barrenador ### 2026-06-04: Mexican States Launch Campaigns to Combat Gusano Barrenador in Cattle Aguascalientes and Tamaulipas launch coordinated campaigns urging cattle producers to adopt inspection, treatment, and movement controls to curb the gusano barrenador outbreak. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mexican-states-launch-campaigns-to-combat-gusano-barrenador-in-cattle ### 2026-06-04: Puebla ramps up surveillance and training to curb livestock parasite outbreak Puebla's government, backed by 18 M pesos and federal partners, expands traps, inspections and training to combat the livestock parasite gusano barrenador and protect animal health. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/puebla-ramps-up-surveillance-and-training-to-curb-livestock-parasite-outbreak --- Cite as: Mexico resumes livestock exports to US via Sonora. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/mexico-fights-gusano-barrenador-outbreak