Post by FAO

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and FAO are stepping up efforts to contain and suppress the re-emergence of New World Screwworm in Central America, Mexico and the United States of America through the application of a nuclear technique. The New World Screwworm (NWS) is a parasitic fly whose larvae infest warm-blooded animals. Female flies lay eggs in open wounds or mucous membranes, and once hatched, the larvae burrow into living tissue, enlarging wounds and causing infections that can be fatal if untreated. After decades of successful eradication, the pest has re-emerged in Central America and Mexico and was confirmed in the United States in early June 2026 — the first occurrence there in more than 40 years. “The New World screwworm outbreak in Central America, Mexico and the United States is a timely warning that pests and diseases never respect territories, and addressing this reemerged threat across boundaries requires vigilance, international cooperation, and sustained coherent management in monitoring, science, and innovation. Through the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre and under the new Coordinated Research Project, we are strengthening proven tools such as the sterile insect technique, which has successfully eradicated this pest in the past, including in Libya, to help countries protect livelihoods and build more resilient agrifood systems,” noted FAO Director-General QU Dongyu.   Read more: https://lnkd.in/eNurXBet   #NewWorldScrewworm #AnimalHealth #AgInnovation