Yucatan’s Innovative Solution to Combat Screwworm Crisis

The Yucatan government is planning to use sterile flies to combat a screwworm infestation. This decision comes after the first confirmed case of screwworm in the region. The strategy aims to curb the spread of this pest and safeguard the local livestock population.

Governor Joaquín Díaz Mena announced the preventative measures being taken to halt the proliferation of the screwworm. He confirmed that the affected calf, located in the rural community of Corral within the Tzucacab municipality, was treated by veterinarians and will not be culled.

The National Service for Agri-Food Health, Safety, and Quality (SENASICA) stepped in to manage the situation following established protocols. Governor Díaz Mena also mentioned that the Ministry of Rural Development is taking necessary steps to prevent the spread of the screwworm and other potential biological threats to the state's livestock.

The sterile fly release method has proven successful in other regions of the country and will now be used in Yucatan to disrupt the screwworm's reproduction. The governor revealed that since 2024, there have been 133 recorded cases of screwworm in livestock, with 64 of the affected animals still alive. These cases were reported in the states of Campeche, Chiapas, Tabasco, Quintana Roo, and Yucatan.

Governor Díaz Mena urged the farming community to report any suspicious cases promptly to SENASICA for immediate attention.