USDA releases funding to control New World screwworm

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WASHINGTON– The US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed it would provide $165 million in Commodity Credit Corporation funding to protect US livestock and other animals from the New World screwworm (NWS).

The agency will also use the money to control the spread of NWS in Mexico and Central America.

APHIS noted that over the last two years, NWS spread throughout livestock in Panama and into Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala.

Last month, the chief veterinary officer of Mexico notified APHIS of a positive NWS detection in the southern Mexico state of Chiapas, near the border of Guatemala.

APHIS explained that the funding would be designed to stop the spread of NWS from moving into northern parts of Mexico and protect the United States with surveillance, animal health checkpoints and domestic preparedness.

The agency plans to partner with Mexico and Central America to establish a barrier on the Isthmus of Tehuantepc, to eradicate NWS from the affected areas, including Panama.

“The current outbreaks in Central America demonstrate the need for USDA to increase its investment in NWS eradication and prevention,” said Jenny Lester Moffitt, USDA undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs. “If NWS were to spread to the United States, it would result in significant economic losses and threats to animal health and welfare. This funding will allow for a coordinated emergency response to control the outbreak and prevent NWS from spreading to the United States.”

APHIS also asked producers at the southern border to monitor livestock and pets for signs of NWS and report potential cases to their local veterinarian, state veterinarian’s office or APHIS Veterinary Services.

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