The Secretary of Agro-Food Development and Rural Development (Sefader) of the State of Oaxaca has confirmed the first case of infection by screwworm in a horse in the municipality of Matías Romero Avendaño, following the diagnosis made by the National Service of Health, Safety, and Agro-Food Quality (Senasica).
In response to this case, a team composed of veterinary medical personnel from Senasica and 10 members of the State Committee for the Promotion and Protection of Livestock of the State of Oaxaca has been deployed. The goal of this team is to conduct inspections and detect possible new infections in the area.
Since November 2024, the first case of screwworm has been reported in Mexico. In response to this situation, the Government of Oaxaca and Senasica have implemented sanitary measures, such as spraying baths with larvicides at inspection points for livestock movement, as well as verifying treatment and consistency of strapped shipment.
Víctor López Leyva, head of Sefader, informed in a statement that more than 65,000 livestock producers will be trained, especially in the regions of Istmo de Tehuantepec, Cuenca del Papaloapan, and the Coast, "to timely detect the presence of this worm".
Additionally, surveillance at verification points within the state has been reinforced. Authorities have called on livestock producers and the general population to report any cases of animals with worms in wounds to the telephone number 800 751 2100.