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FLESH-EATING FLY OUTBREAK THREATENS U.S. CATTLE! RANCHERS IN PANIC MODE!
MEXICAN CATTLE LOCKDOWN! Panic has struck as the U.S. slams the door on Mexican cattle again! Following fears of an invasion from the dreaded flesh-eating New World screwworm fly, ranchers and veterinarians hundreds of miles from the border are in a desperate battle to save their livestock and livelihoods!
In the southern state of Chiapas, bordering Guatemala, ranchers are on high alert as this parasite wreaks havoc, catching them utterly unprepared! The ghosts of past outbreaks from the ’80s and ’90s haunt them as they confront a situation spiraling out of control!
MILLIONS AT STAKE! Meanwhile, Mexico is scrambling to construct a plant—thanks to U.S. support—that’ll churn out sterile flies to combat the infestation, but guess what? It won’t be ready until NEXT YEAR! And in the interim, ranchers are fighting a losing battle as costs for life-saving treatments skyrocket!
HOME REMEDIES EXPOSED! In a gripping twist, ranchers are resorting to wild home remedies, slathering gasoline and lime on open wounds to try to force those vile worms out! One misstep, and the screwworm will dive in and lay eggs, turning a minor scrape into a nightmare!
Veterinarian Alfredo Chávez, who missed the last catastrophic outbreak, is witnessing the horror unfold firsthand. In just one month, DOZENS of cases have erupted! And it’s not just cows under siege—sheep, pigs, cats, and dogs are all fair game!
CRUCIAL BATTLES! Armed with blue tweezers and a powerful aerosol spray, Chávez gallantly rushes from animal to animal, collecting maggot samples for agricultural authorities. But here’s the kicker—he claims the government has pretty much left them to fend for themselves!
“We’ve faced it alone!” he exclaims in horror!
RETURN OF THE CATTLE BAN! Just as the U.S. began to ease restrictions on cattle imports, BAM! Another infected animal was found in Veracruz, and the U.S. slammed the door shut once again. Officials are sweating bullets, fearing that if the screwworm touches Texas soil, a massive economic catastrophe could follow in its wake!
Ranch caretaker Edi Valencia Santos says officials have visited his community, but with NO resources! Five of his animals are infected, and despite most cattle being destined for local consumption, the screwworm presence has left exports to the U.S. frozen nationwide!
Valencia recalls the days when small planes spread sterile flies to end earlier outbreaks, and while he remains hopeful, the pile of costs and worries is DAUNTING!
“It’s a big, big problem in Chiapas,” he warns.
THE CLOCK IS TICKING! As the crisis escalates, ranchers are left pleading for help, battling against time and this terrifying parasite! Will they find a way to defeat the screwworm before it reaches the U.S. borders? The stakes are sky-high as the fight continues!
photo credit: fortune.com
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