Eradication of the new world screwworm

Historically, the New World Screwworm has been one of the most destructive and costly pests, attacking both domestic and wild warm blooded animals, including humans. Its original habitat was the tropical and subtropical areas of the southern United States of America, Mexico, Central America, two thirds of South America and the islands of the Caribbean. In 1972, the Governments of Mexico and the United States of America set up a commission to eradicate the parasite from northern and western Mexico, down to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and to establish a ''sterile fly barrier'' in that zone. For the purpose of eradication the commission used the combined action of two basic systems - production and dispersion of sterile flies, and field operations. In 1986, in view of the progress made, it extended its screwworm eradication activities to the Yucatan Peninsula and the countries of Central America. Thus, more than 90% of Guatemala's territory is now free from this pest. Belize was declared free from it in June 1992. Eradication operations are in progress in Honduras and El Salvador. In addition, it is planned to conclude agreements with Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama. Mexico had officially been declared screwworm-free in February 1991, but there was an outbreak which it is hoped will have been brought under control by the end of 1992. Mention should also be made of the activities which have been carried out to eradicate the screwworm in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. As a result of the joint eradication efforts in that region, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya was declared free from this pest in June 1991. Hence the New World Screwworm eradication programme has basically been successful in the United States of America, Mexico, Central America and North Africa