Hidalgo reports 92% control of screwworm cases

Hidalgo state authorities report that 92% of more than 1,100 screwworm cases in livestock are now in a passive condition, with only 8% still active, according to the state Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development. No livestock deaths or human cases have been attributed to the pest, and surveillance is concentrated in the Huasteca and Sierra regions Source: Excelsior.

Case numbers

• The accumulated total since February is 1,161 infested animals, primarily cattle, as of August 12 Source: Milenio.
• The current active case count is 54, down from a peak of 200 Source: Milenio.
• Dogs are the second most affected species, but owners often fail to return for follow-up treatment, raising concerns about abandoned animals spreading the parasite Source: Milenio.

Control strategy

Authorities plan to release sterile flies to reduce reproduction, a strategy that requires sustained effort Source: Excelsior. A sterile fly production plant in Metapa, Chiapas, reopened in June with U.S. support and will produce up to 100 million sterile flies Source: Milenio.

Timeline disagreement

Excelsior reports that control measures are underway but does not specify a timeline. In contrast, researcher José Ignacio Olave Leyva projects that total control could take up to eight more years, with full eradication in about ten years from the first confirmed case in November 2024 Source: Milenio. This discrepancy highlights differing expectations about the duration of the effort.