OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) has announced full support for USDA Secretary Rollins recent actions to protect America’s livestock from the rising threat of the New World Screwworm (NWS).

Secretary Rollins sent a very sharp yet openly cooperative letter to her counterpart in Mexico insisting that Mexico hold to their commitments regarding NWS control and eradication.

In November of last year, USDA was informed that NWS had been detected in far south Mexico. Since that time, it has made a slow trek north.

USDA has been sending supplies, including sterile male flies, by plane to Mexico which have been denied landing privileges as well as being assessed customs duties on the flies and insect technique equipment.

Release of sterile male flies into infected areas is the best and most effective measure to stop the spread northward and begin pushing the flies southward back into the Darian Gap.

“OCA remembers well the extreme cost of this pest to our cattle businesses before eradication in the 1960s. We cannot afford to let the fly move into the United States so Mexico must cooperate with us, which only benefits them as well,” commented Dr. Troy Shelby, OCA President.

OCA Executive Vice President Michael Kelsey shared, “OCA met with Secretary Rollins on April 24th and discussed this issue directly. She was fully up to speed and shared her complete support for an all-out push to keep the Screwworm fly out of the US. OCA greatly appreciates Secretary Rollins’ leadership on this important issue!”