First Case of Screwworm Detected in Mazatlán, Sinaloa

The Local Livestock Association (AGL) of Mazatlán has confirmed the presence of the screwworm in the municipality, causing concern among local livestock producers. The association's president, José Antonio Lizárraga Rivera, has urged farmers to increase visual inspections of their herds, focusing on open wounds and disinfecting the umbilical cords of newborn calves.

The spread of the parasite is proving difficult to contain in the short term, with experts estimating that eradication in Sinaloa may take up to four years of sustained efforts. The outbreak officially began on July 22, when the first infection was confirmed in a bovine in El Rosario municipality.

SENASICA, Mexico's National Service for Agroalimentary Public Health, Safety and Quality, reports that Sinaloa has 23 active cases. San Ignacio leads with six cases, followed by Escuinapa and Rosario with four each, Elota with three, and Culiacán with two. Mazatlán, Concordia, Mocorito, and Badiraguato have reported one case each.

The confirmation in Mazatlán highlights the need for robust epidemiological monitoring and strict control of livestock movements within the state. Effective containment of the myiasis outbreak will rely on the prompt reporting of suspected cases, early isolation of infested animals, and rigorous application of larvicidal treatments to protect the viability of Sinaloa's livestock sector.