The Mexican government is investing 51 million pesos [1] into a sterile fly plant to combat the spread of the screwworm parasite.

This investment aims to protect the national livestock industry and animal health from the screwworm, also known as the myiasis worm. The parasite causes severe tissue damage in livestock, threatening the livelihoods of farmers and the stability of the agricultural supply chain.

Oaxaca is currently the second most affected state in the country. Authorities said the state has 157 active cases of myiasis [2]. The outbreak is most severe in Chiapas, which has recorded 7,123 accumulated cases [3].

The government is utilizing a biological control method by producing sterile flies. This technique prevents the parasite from reproducing in the wild, effectively breaking the life cycle of the insect and reducing the number of infected animals across affected regions.

While the crisis is concentrated in the south, the parasite has appeared in other parts of the country. Officials said one case occurred in Coahuila, where a veterinarian became infected [4]. This indicates the parasite's ability to spread across diverse geographic regions, threatening both animal and human health.

The current strategy focuses on containment and eradication through the new facility. By integrating sterile fly releases with monitoring in high-risk states like Oaxaca and Chiapas, the government said it hopes to halt the progression of the outbreak [1].

“Mexico is investing 51 million pesos into a sterile fly plant to combat the spread of the screwworm parasite.”

The use of a sterile insect technique represents a shift toward biological warfare against agricultural pests rather than relying solely on chemical treatments. The spread of the screwworm from southern states like Chiapas to northern regions like Coahuila suggests a widening geographical risk that could lead to stricter livestock movement restrictions and economic losses for the Mexican meat and dairy sectors.