Yucatán battles screwworm outbreak with 212 cases

Mérida, Yucatán — The Yucatán Secretariat of Rural Development (Seder) has reported 82 new cases of screwworm infestations in livestock, bringing the total confirmed cases in the state to 212. All affected animals have been successfully treated under the National Emergency Animal Health Device activated by the Mexican government.

Coordinated Response to the Outbreak

In collaboration with the National Service for Agrifood Health, Safety, and Quality (Senasica), Seder has implemented enhanced measures to prevent the spread of the parasitic pest. Authorities emphasize immediate surveillance and treatment protocols, ensuring infected animals receive care without requiring quarantines or euthanasia.

Geographic Distribution of Cases

The new cases span multiple municipalities, with varying infection counts:

Municipalities with Two Cases Each

• Tzucacab
• Tekal de Venegas
• Teya
• Izamal
• Huhí
• Maxcanú
• Dzilam González
• Cenotillo

Affected animals include cattle, sheep, goats, and dogs, ranging in age from six days to six years. Wounds—primarily caused by barbed wire or bat bites—were found on body parts such as the neck, head, udder, thigh, vulva, ear, tarsus, and navel.

Municipalities with Three Cases Each

• Calotmul
• Temozón
• Halachó
• Peto
• Buctzotz
• Cansahcab
• Espita

Cases involved cattle, pigs, dogs, and horses aged six days to nine years, with injuries from branding, horn wounds, fights, tagging, barbed wire, papillomatosis, and bat bites.

Municipalities with Four Cases

Tekax recorded four cases in cattle aged 15 days to eight years, with lesions on the navel, horns, and vulva.

Municipalities with Eight Cases

Panabá and Tunkás each reported eight cases in cattle aged five days to seven years, with wounds on the navel, thorax, horns, vulva, and ears.

Municipalities with Nine Cases

Tizimín documented nine cases in cattle, horses, and pigs aged eight days to 20 years, with injuries on the forearm, navel, interscapular region, neck, horns, and udder.

Single-Case Municipalities

Hocabá, Tixkokob, Muna, Ticul, Dzoncauich, Sucilá, Oxkutzcab, Opichén, Kopomá, Chapab, Baca, Cantamayec, Xocchel, and Kantunil each reported one case in dogs, sheep, pigs, or cattle aged five days to 10 years, with wounds on the navel or udder.

Breakdown by Species

• 176 cattle
• 14 dogs
• 4 horses
• 5 sheep
• 11 pigs
• 2 goats

Seder and Senasica continue joint efforts to address reports from the public and contain the outbreak.