The Department of Agriculture on Friday announced it was opening several southern ports back up for livestock imports, lifting a ban it had placed on entry points bordering Mexico designed to keep the New World Screwworm at bay. 

USDA closed multiple ports last year in an effort to slow the spread of the flesh-eating parasite, which holds the power to devastate the multi-billion dollar ranching industry in Texas and beyond. Through illegal animal movement and other issues, the pest still managed to push its way up through Central America and Mexico, and finally into Texas earlier this year, but officials have managed to keep it in check, with just nine active cases confirmed in the U.S. as of Saturday.