By Amira McKee

The U.S. beef supply will persist through this week's arrival of the flesh-eating New World screwworm, says Elanco Animal Health CEO Jeff Simmons.

U.S. cattle herds have for years been strained by drought, he acknowledged, but beyond that, "we do not see this impacting the markets or the supply chains in any material way," Simmons said in an interview.

Shares of Elanco, which manufactures treatments to manage the deadly parasite, climbed 1.5% Thursday after the USDA confirmed the first screwworm finding in U.S. livestock in decades. The USDA has already activated a national stockpile of medications to address the pest, Simmons says, including Elanco products.

"We've seen when these things happen, they're managed," he said. "The U.S. is as equipped as any country."

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June 04, 2026 13:47 ET (17:47 GMT)

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