The Mexican border is closed again this morning as Mexico’s National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety and Quality reported a new case of New World Screwworm farther north than it was before.
News reports say the case is only about 370 miles south of the US/Mexico border and about 160 miles north of the current sterile fly dispersal grid on the eastern side of the country.
Prior to this most recent closing, the border was being reopened to Mexican cattle in stages with the first, Douglas, AZ, opening July 7. This border crossing is now closed.
The latest case is concerning as it leapfrogged the control measures that were being taken by Mexico with the aid of the USDA. Sterile male flies were being released to mate with the females that would then lay sterile eggs.
There is no news on where the eradication program goes from here. Presumably, the sterile fly releases will back up and move farther north.
But news reports say the USDA continues to move forward with building a sterile fly production facility to increase the resources available to fight this destructive pest.