Sonora Reports First Screwworm Case, Activates Emergency Protocols
Sonora detected its first screwworm case and activated emergency containment protocols, coinciding with the USDA's plan to lift a ban on Mexican cattle imports.
The Mexican state of Sonora has activated emergency surveillance, containment, and control measures following the detection of its first case of screwworm, Governor Alfonso Durazo announced on Wednesday.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, Durazo said the state has reinforced its sanitary cordon and stepped up actions in the affected area to prevent the parasite from spreading and to safeguard the region's animal health status.
The development comes just as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is preparing to lift a ban on cattle imports from Mexico in the coming week. The timing of the detection could have implications for cross-border livestock trade, though no official statement on the matter has been issued yet.
Screwworm is a parasitic infestation caused by fly larvae that can be fatal to livestock if left untreated. Authorities have not disclosed the exact location or scale of the detection, but the activation of emergency protocols signals the seriousness with which state officials are treating the case.