Posted: Tuesday, October 7, 2025. 1:20 pm CST.
New World Screwworm – Photo Credit: Senasica
By Rubén Morales Iglesias: 
Mexico has confirmed a second case of the New World Screwworm (NWS) in Nuevo Leon, a northern state bordering the United States, intensifying concerns over the parasite’s northward spread. The case, reported by Mexico’s agriculture ministry, involved an infested calf intercepted in Montemorelos, south of Monterrey. The animal had originated from southern Mexico, a region with active screwworm infestations.
According to Reuters, the larvae found in the calf were dead or dying due to mandatory treatments, including ivermectin. Mexico’s agriculture ministry and their animal health authority Senasica emphasized that the condition of the larvae demonstrated the effectiveness of inspection protocols at both origin and destination.
This latest detection comes just two weeks after a separate case in Nuevo Leon, confirmed by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) on September 21. That earlier case was located roughly 70 miles from the US border, along a major highway linking Monterrey to Laredo, Texas. The USDA has since ramped up containment efforts, including the construction of a sterile fly dispersal facility in Edinburg, Texas, capable of releasing up to 100 million sterile flies weekly.
Mexico’s Senasica, for their part, announced the release of 800,000 sterile flies to combat the outbreak, which has rattled the livestock sector and prompted the United States to halt imports of cattle, bison, and horses from Mexico since May.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has voiced strong criticism of Mexico’s handling of the outbreak, citing failures in curbing cattle movements and maintaining fly traps.
“We will have boots on the ground within hours to independently verify the situation,” Rollins posted on X, formerly Twitter.
New World Screwworm flies – Photo Credit: Senasica
Belize Grapples with Severe Screwworm Surge
Meanwhile, Belize continues to battle a severe outbreak of the parasite, which first reappeared in Central America in late 2023 after decades of eradication. The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) has reported over 500 cases to date, with more than half affecting pets—particularly dogs. Alarmingly, two human cases have also been confirmed.
The first Belizean case was detected in an infected calf in Crique Sarco, Toledo, on December 28, 2024. Since then, the parasite has spread rapidly, mirroring its trajectory through Panama and Mexico.
The resurgence of NWS, which had been eradicated from North and Central America for over 30 years, poses a renewed threat to regional agriculture and public health. The USDA has launched a five-pronged strategy to prevent the parasite from breaching US borders, including enhanced surveillance, technological innovation, and aggressive containment measures.
As the screwworm continues its march northward, authorities across the region remain on high alert, with coordinated efforts underway to halt its spread and protect livestock, pets, and human populations alike.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Belize ~ We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages. Your content is delivered instantly to thousands of users in Belize and abroad! Contact us at mаrkеtіng@brеаkіngbеlіzеnеwѕ.соm or call us at 501-612-0315.
© 2025, BreakingBelizeNews.com. Content is copyrighted and requires written permission for reprinting in online or print media. Theft of content without permission/payment is punishable by law.
The post New screwworm case detected near United States as crisis deepens appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Tuesday, October 7, 2025. 1:20 pm CST. New World Screwworm – Photo Credit: Senasica By Rubén Morales Iglesias: 🦠🇲🇽🇺🇸 Mexico has confirmed a second case
The post New screwworm case detected near United States as crisis deepens appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
