USDA takes restrictive motion to stop unfold of this devastating pest to animals within the US
25 November 2024
3 minute learn
On November 22, 2024, the Chief Veterinary Officer of Mexico notified america Division of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Well being Inspection Service (APHIS) of a constructive detection of New World screwworm (NWS) in Mexico. The NWS was present in a cow within the southern Mexico state of Chiapas, at an inspection checkpoint near the border with Guatemala. NWS are fly larvae that infest dwelling tissue of warm-blooded animals, inflicting an infection.
NWS (Cochliomyia hominivorax) is a devastating pest. When NWS fly larvae (maggots) burrow into the flesh of a dwelling animal, they trigger critical, typically lethal harm to the animal. NWS can infest livestock, pets, wildlife, sometimes birds, and in uncommon instances, folks.
“Given the northward motion of NWS, APHIS has in current months stepped up its efforts in Central America to companion with impacted international locations to push this pest out of newly affected areas,” mentioned Dr. Rosemary Sifford, Chief Veterinary Officer of america. “With this newest discover in Mexico, we’ll additional intensify this work to guard American agriculture and reestablish the barrier in Central America.”
Given the severity of the risk from NWS, APHIS is proscribing the importation of animal commodities originating from or transiting Mexico efficient instantly and pending additional data from Mexican veterinary authorities on the dimensions and scope of the infestation. An entire record of areas APHIS acknowledges as affected by screwworm and nicely as extra detailed data on commerce restrictions might be discovered on the USDA APHIS Animal Well being Standing of Areas
web site.
NWS maggots can infest livestock and different warm-blooded animals, together with folks. They most frequently enter an animal via an open wound and feed on the animal’s dwelling flesh. Whereas they’ll fly a lot farther below preferrred circumstances, grownup flies usually don’t journey greater than a few miles if there are appropriate host animals within the space.
APHIS is working with companions in Mexico and Central America to cease the unfold of NWS into america and asking all producers alongside the southern border to look at their livestock and pets for indicators of NWS and instantly report potential instances.
Screwworm infestations are troublesome to detect at first. Examine your pets and livestock for draining or enlarging wounds, and indicators of discomfort. Additionally search for screwworm larvae or eggs. Screwworm eggs are creamy and white and are deposited on close to the perimeters of superficial wounds. In case you suspect your animal is contaminated with screwworm, contact your veterinarian.
Whereas not frequent in people, in the event you discover a suspicious lesion in your physique or suspect you will have contracted screwworms, search rapid medical consideration.
Since 2006, APHIS has collaborated with Panama to take care of a barrier zone in japanese Panama, working to stop the northward motion of NWS from South America to NWS-free areas in Central and North America. Within the final two years, screwworm has unfold north of the barrier all through Panama and into Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and now Mexico. This enhance is because of a number of components together with new areas of farming in earlier barrier areas for fly management and elevated cattle actions into the area. APHIS is releasing sterile flies via aerial and floor launch at strategic areas all through Central America.
APHIS will proceed working with companions in Mexico and Central America to eradicate NWS from the affected areas and to reestablish the organic barrier in Panama.
To be taught extra about NWS, go to the APHIS web site.
