Authorities from Central America, Mexico and the United States met in San José to coordinate strategies against the spread of screwworm in livestock. The meeting, organized by IICA and USDA-APHIS, aims to close dispersion routes and enhance regional surveillance. Experts stressed that no country can tackle this plague alone, recalling past successes in joint eradication.
The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) announced that representatives from veterinary services of the United States, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama met in San José, Costa Rica, to bolster action against screwworm in cattle. This parasite threatens livestock production in the region and could impact meat supply in Mexico if not contained.
The meeting, titled 'Regional Coordination Meeting on Animal Movement and Screwworm Control (GBG)', involved over 50 key actors, including the International Regional Organization for Agricultural Health (OIRSA) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Participants shared national epidemiological situations, reviewed regulatory frameworks for animal mobilization and agreed on regional priorities to prevent plague expansion.
José Urdaz, manager of IICA's Agricultural Health Program, highlighted: “This meeting is strategic as it seeks to change course through joint action to close dispersion routes, strengthen surveillance, inspection and treatment before movement, reduce irregular transit and ensure agile information exchange”. He added: “No country can face this challenge alone; the region eradicated this plague when it worked coordinately”.
Ibrahim Shaqir, deputy associate administrator of USDA-APHIS International Services, emphasized: “The work must focus on aligning surveillance systems, analyzing animal movements, finding practical ways to share information and mitigate risks, and strengthening daily field operational practices”.
During the event, advances in national and bilateral plans were examined, and opportunities to expand effective strategies were explored, defining a joint roadmap for plague control.
