Mexico implements sanitary barriers to combat screwworm spread

Efforts to contain the spread of the screwworm (gusano barrenador) are intensifying in Mexico. In Chihuahua, approximately 3.5 million sterile flies are being delivered to various municipalities, including Allende, Coronado, Matamoros, and López, to curb the infestation.

In the State of Mexico, authorities are preparing a second sanitary barrier in the eastern zone to reduce the incidence of myiasis, a disease caused by the parasite. This new containment area is proposed to cover municipalities between Juchitepec and Atlautla, bordering Morelos. The current existing barrier, stretching from Santo Tomás to Ocuilan, has already prevented the birth of an estimated 3 million new flies.

To manage the threat, the State of Mexico has deployed 35 doctors dedicated exclusively to treating myiasis cases 24/7. While high incidence remains a concern in the coastal regions of Guerrero and Oaxaca due to favorable climatic conditions, these containment measures aim to limit the insect's reproduction and spread.