By Alberto Banuet
History, Context & Current Situation
The last time we fought this pest, we won after nearly 30 years of relentless effort, thanks to a well- designed plan, a strong and coordinated program, and highly committed professionals from both Mexico and the United States, dedicated to protecting the livestock industries of our countries.
It would be fantastic to have some of those people with us in this new round. Sadly, many are no longer here, others are retired, and those who could help are understandably reluctant to get involved in a project that does not seem to have a defined strategic direction.
The New World Screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) is endemic to Mexico, Central America, parts of South America, and several Caribbean islands. It has even reached some southern U.S. states.
Eradicating it took $620 million, 58,000 flight hours, the release of 250 billion sterile flies, and by the end, in the early ‘80s, more than 2,000 people were involved in the program.
We always knew the screwworm would eventually try to reclaim its territory. Moving the sterile fly production plant to Panama, to push the front line farther south, was a smart idea. But something went wrong.
Studies from Mexico’s National University (UNAM) predicted the pest might return around 2045.Now, thanks to global warming (the catch-all excuse for every failure), it’s back much earlier than expected.
This time, the operation is being managed, on both sides of the border, by officials who, as we say in Mexico, “couldn’t get a dog out of a cornfield.” Their only visible objective seems to be reopening the U.S. border to Mexican feeder calves. A noble goal, perhaps, but in a battle of this magnitude, it’s nowhere near enough.
Neither Secretary Rollins nor Secretary Berdegué seems particularly concerned with the pork, poultry, dairy, goat, or sheep industries, sectors they’ve never mentioned in their carefully staged press briefings. It’s all: “cattle, border, calves, border, cattle……”
But the screwworm doesn’t discriminate. It affects any warm-blooded animal. In Mexico, we’ve seen infestations in hawks, herons, jaguars, deer, armadillos, chickens, dogs, goats, and humans. It’s not just livestock that’s at risk.
To their credit, both Rollins and Berdegué have emphasized the need to build or rehabilitate sterile fl y production plants, and they’re right to do so. It’s the only proven way to fi ght this plague effectively. Unfortunately, the Panama facility can no longer meet today’s demands.
Meanwhile, in Mexico, awhile, in Mexico, a plant is ready to go.
While the secretaries spend countless hours at press conferences, we’ve been trying, unsuccessfully, to inform USDA and Agriculture officials that there’s a fully functional sterile mosquito production plant in Yucatán, operated by the University of Yucatán, that could easily pivot to producing sterile flies on short notice.
We’ve sent emails to at least a dozen USDA officials, Secretary Rollins included, offering use of the facility, along with its personnel: entomologists, biologists, and support technicians, all at no cost. Not even one has had the professional courtesy to acknowledge receipt, much less express interest or respond with a simple “No, thank you.” As for the Mexican authorities… best not even go there.
This facility already has a working irradiator, highly trained staff in insect production, all with and Livestock Health Department SARH. He breeds Red Brahman cattle as well as Australian Shepherds and Katahdin sheep. NEWS PhDs, and a genuine willingness to contribute to the program.
Rollins and Berdegué say they plan to open new plants in Hidalgo, Texas, and Metapa de Domínguez, Chiapas, by the end of the year. And in the meantime?
The screwworm roams freely. By Alberto Banuet
