Mexico is now importing sterile flies to combat the screwworm, a pest that infests wounds in live animals. The strategy aims to break its reproductive cycle and contain its spread in affected regions.
Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum announced that the measure is already underway and is part of a comprehensive plan that includes infrastructure and on-site technical support.
The progress was recognized by the United States Department of Agriculture, which opens the possibility of reopening border crossings for livestock, crucial for the agricultural sector.
The mayor explained that importing sterile flies is the primary tool for breaking the pest’s life cycle. Their controlled release prevents the harmful insect from reproducing.
In addition, a facility is being built in Chiapas to produce these insects. The project is nearing completion and is expected to begin operations no later than June 2026.
This facility joins the USDA-operated plant in Tampico, inaugurated in November 2025, from where sterile flies are already being released in northeastern Mexico.
The aerial releases cover states such as Nuevo León, one of the key cattle-raising regions where efforts are underway to contain the spread of the screwworm.
In parallel, the federal government has activated technical support through the Sembrando Vida (Sowing Life) program, which coordinates brigades and field schools to assist affected producers.
Source: quintanaroohoy
