Mexico ramps up sterile‑fly releases to fight screwworm in livestock

Mexico's national strategy to contain the cattle screwworm (gusano barrenador) is advancing with a new sterile‑fly production plant in Chiapas. The first releases are planned with 60 million sterile flies, but State of México officials warned that this initial amount will not be enough to cover all affected regions. They expect up to 500 million flies with U.S. collaboration, meaning the State of México (Edomex) will likely miss the early batches while priority zones in the north and key export‑producing states such as Sonora receive the flies first.

The University Autonomous of Aguascalientes (UAA) has reinforced surveillance of its own herd, reporting nearly 2,000 infected cases nationwide, with about 900 bovines and 600 canines currently active. Researchers highlighted increased animal movement and transport routes as factors accelerating spread, and stressed that consumption of infected meat poses no risk, but animal welfare is threatened. Authorities continue to urge immediate reporting of suspected cases to the agriculture ministry and local officials.