Mexico steps up screwworm fly control as cases climb in Puebla and Chihuahua

The screwworm fly (Cochliomyia hominivorax) has become a major animal health issue in Mexico. In Puebla, officials report 172 active cases across 58 municipalities, making the state the national epicenter. In Chihuahua, the infestation has spread to 19 municipalities with 41 confirmed cases, more than double the count reported earlier.

Federal and state agencies are intensifying control measures. The Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) has released sterile male flies in Allende and Coronado to interrupt the reproductive cycle. Training courses on detection, prevention and rapid response have been held for producers in San Luis Hoy and other regions. The Secretariat of Urban Development and Ecology (SDUE) convened a meeting with SENASICA officials to coordinate wildlife surveillance, while Sonora's Sagarhpa deployed technical brigades to educate over 7,000 livestock owners.

These coordinated actions aim to contain the outbreak, protect livestock and prevent the disease from affecting wildlife, reducing potential economic losses for the agricultural sector.