Northern Mexico ranchers boost sanitary measures amid screwworm fly detection

Cattle ranchers and dairy producers in Ciudad Juárez, northern Mexico, have heightened sanitary measures following the confirmation of the first screwworm fly case in Chihuahua state. The detection, found in a calf near the Durango border, has sparked fears of the pest affecting livestock activity and potentially leading to new export restrictions for a key economic sector in the region.

Producers are now working under stringent prevention protocols to curb the spread of the fly, which lays larvae in open wounds on cattle. José Alfonso Prieto Rodríguez, a local dairy producer, explained that while they are taking maximum precautions, they are not immune to the threat. "We know we are not exempt, but we have tried to take the utmost precautions with fumigation and the application of wound treatments as soon as animals' injuries are detected," he told EFE.

Lesions on cows, often sustained during daily handling or through contact with other animals, create entry points for the fly's larvae. In response, stables have increased the frequency of fumigation using cypermethrin. They are also focusing on enhanced cleaning and eliminating moisture sources and manure accumulation, which are conducive to insect reproduction.

Beyond the health concerns, producers worry about the economic fallout. An infected cow experiences a significant drop in milk production due to the stress of the disease, directly impacting the profitability of dairy farms. The screwworm fly has already been detected in 27 of Mexico's 32 states, with Chihuahua being one of the last remaining states previously unaffected.

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We know we are not exempt, but we have tried to take the utmost precautions with fumigation and the application of wound treatments as soon as animals' injuries are detected.