Screwworm threatens livestock in Mexico

Published May 18, 2025

Tridge summary

A parasitic disease caused by screwworms, which was eradicated in 1991, has re-emerged in Panama and spread to southern Mexico, leading to the suspension of live cattle, horses, and bison imports from Mexico to the US. The disease, transmitted through flies, has caused significant economic losses in Mexico, with over 869 animal cases confirmed from November 2024 to April 2025. The Mexican government has implemented control measures, including inspections and veterinarian training, and has requested a sterile fly production plant from the US, holding it responsible for the pest's resurgence.

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Original content

A plague thought to have been eradicated since 1991 reappeared two years ago in Panama and spread to southern Mexico, where the Ministry of Health confirmed two human cases of myiasis, or a parasitic disease caused by screwworms, specifically in Chiapas. The first occurred in a 77-year-old woman residing in the municipality of Acacoyagua, and the second occurred in the municipality of Tuzantán, in a 50-year-old man who was bitten by a dog. Between November 2024 and April 2025, the National Service for Health, Safety, and Agrifood Quality (Senasica) confirmed 869 cases of myiasis in animals in southeastern Mexico. The most affected states are Chiapas (487 cases), 249 in Tabasco, 116 in Campeche, 13 in Quintana Roo, and four in Yucatán. Economic Impact Import Suspension: The United States suspended the import of live cattle, horses, and bison from Mexico for 15 days due to the threat of the screwworm. This measure affects an industry that generates more than $1 billion annually ...

Source: Agromeat