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. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said this week she believed officials have enough of a handle on the situation to begin opening up cattle ports of entry in Douglas, Arizona; Santa Teresa, New Mexico; and Columbus, New Mexico. Douglas will open first on Aug. 24, followed by the others in a “phased reopening” contingent on Mexico’s adherence to the USDA’s “Joint Action Plan” to fight the pest, according to Rollins. Officials said every animal coming through the ports will undergo a full USDA inspection to ensure it is free of NWS.