Screwworm Scare Rattles Agriculture Markets, Crypto Unaffected

The U.S. confirmed its first human case of New World screwworm in decades, sparking concerns in agriculture markets. The infected individual had traveled from Central America, with health officials assuring low public risk. Yet, the parasite's threat to livestock sent shockwaves through cattle futures and meatpacker stocks.

Tyson Foods (TSN) and JBS (JBS) shares dipped as traders priced in potential herd losses and stricter monitoring. The USDA is reviving sterile fly programs and deploying synthetic lures to contain the outbreak—a costly but necessary measure for an industry that remembers the screwworm's historical devastation.

Cryptocurrency markets remained indifferent to the biosecurity scare, with no direct impact on major coins or exchanges. Bitcoin (BTC) and ethereum (ETH) held steady, underscoring crypto's decoupling from traditional commodity shocks.