First Screwworm Case in Eastern Yucatán; Ranchers Act

Tizimín, Yucatán — The Regional Livestock Union of Eastern Yucatán (UGROY) has confirmed the first case of screwworm in the eastern region of the state, a parasitic infestation previously limited to southern Yucatán. However, UGROY President Mario Esteban López Meneses stated that the discovery should not cause alarm among local ranchers.

Authorities Confirm Infestation in Valladolid

López Meneses reported that federal agricultural authorities identified the presence of screwworm in a cow at a ranch in the municipality of Valladolid. "It was expected that screwworm could appear in livestock in eastern Yucatán at any time," he said. "However, there is no need for alarm, as ranchers will continue deworming and treating wounds in their cattle to prevent further infections."

Containment Measures Intensify

To curb the spread of the disease, authorities have deployed traps for non-sterile flies in southern and eastern Yucatán. Once captured, these flies are replaced with sterile ones that cannot produce larvae in livestock wounds, thereby preventing new screwworm cases.

Rising Case Count

As of June 12, seven screwworm cases had been confirmed in Yucatán, all in the southern part of the state, primarily affecting cattle and one dog. With this latest detection, the total number of cases has risen to eight.

López Meneses emphasized that state authorities, through the Secretariat of Rural Development (Seder), have ramped up containment efforts to prevent the parasite from spreading to other regions of Yucatán.