Mexico has recorded 5,086 cases of New World screwworm (NWS) infections in animals as of Aug. 17, a 53% jump from July figures, according to Mexican government data seen by Reuters.
The report, not previously released to the public, showed 649 active cases, with most infections in cattle, though dogs, horses and sheep were also affected. “That’s absolutely concerning,” said Neal Wilkins, CEO of the East Foundation. “Having a 50% increase in month-over-month numbers, particularly in the extreme heat, means they haven’t gotten it under control.”
According to Reuters, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Vaden confirmed that the USDA will send a team to Mexico to verify compliance with protocols aimed at stopping the parasite’s northward spread into the U.S.
