Screwworm: Declared zoosanitary emergency

He Ministry of Agricultural Development (Mida) declared this Wednesday an ’emergency zoosanitary situation’ due to the outbreak of screwworms throughout the country.

As Minister Augusto Valderrama explained, measureas the guarantor of animal and plant health in the country, he took responsibility for signing the decree declaring a state of emergency in relation to animal health, as a result of an outbreak of earthworms that appeared in Panama.

Valderrama explained that the signing of said decree implies state responsibility shared with the United States Government, since for more than 27 years both countries have managed Copega (Panama Commission – United States for the Eradication and Prevention of Bovine Worm). .

He explained that during all these years The aforementioned commission “kept at bay this scourge that attacks cattle, mammals, dogs and even humans”.

During the 27 years of Copeg’s existence, cattle ranches of Panama, Central America and North America (United States and Canada) have saved more than 3,500 million dollars annually, while avoiding the proliferation of diseases, damages and related phenomena. effects such as economic losses due to the death of diseased livestock.

Before signing the declaration of emergency, Minister Valderrama met with the Assistant Assistant Administrator of APHIS and representatives of international services, action programs of the United States, Michon Oubichon, Copeg authorities, Oirs and livestock farmers, with whom he defined some action strategies for the control and eradication of the snails.

During the meeting, a plan of surveillance and suppression actions implemented in areas of the country where cases of sharza infection have been identified was also presented.

Similarly, it was agreed that Agricultural Quarantine, Animal Health Mida and Copeg They will increase surveillance at existing checkpoints in Panama to prevent the spread of infection.

In recent days, producers have reported cattle infected with this parasite.