Mexico reports 2,000 cases of screwworm in animals; will strengthen meat production in Mexico
President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to the screwworm emergency, which as of July 23 has recorded 2,503 cases and 2,397 outbreaks.
Sheinbaum reported that the sterile fly plant to combat the screwworm could open in November, adding that the Secretary of Agriculture had gone to the United States to request technical proposals.
“The subjectivity of these decisions has affected many people… she stated that the resources are already available and it will be installed in Mexico.”
The president mentioned that there is an agreement with cattle ranchers in Sonora, Coahuila, and Durango, in addition to moving forward with Chihuahua and Tamaulipas to strengthen meat production in Mexico.
This will be announced next week in the states.
What is the screwworm situation in Mexico?
The OMSA Report on Cattle Screwworm Outbreaks in Mexico and Central America (2022-2025) detailed that most cases occur in the south, although one is located in northern Veracruz.
The same database indicates that three cases were reported in 2024, and currently there are 2,500 cases.
The Directorate of the Mexico-United States Commission for the Prevention of Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Other Exotic Animal Diseases (CPA) reported in its screwworm information bulletin that between November 21, 2024, and July 12, 2025, 3,324 cases of screwworm had been confirmed.
Of these, 2,738 were identified in cattle, 207 in dogs, 173 in horses, 129 in pigs, 61 in sheep, 7 in goats, 4 in cats, 3 in birds, 1 in a water buffalo, and 1 in a wild bird.
The report detected the majority of cases (2,074) in Chiapas, whose municipalities of Ocosingo, Pijijiapan, Benemérito de las Américas, Tonalá, and Marqués de Comillas accounted for the most affected animals.
Chiapas was followed by Tabasco, Campeche, Quintana Roo, Veracruz, Oaxaca, and Yucatán.
Source: elsiglodetorreon
