180 million sterile flies against Screwworm

About HRK 180.1 million Sterile screw flies weekly produced a multidisciplinary group of health workers The Panamanian-United States Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of the Screwworm (COPEG), according to data from November 2023.

Likewise, about 166.5 million sterile flies were released overland at strategic pest control sites.

Released flies go through strict quality controls to confirm that they are sterile and in accordance with ISO standards that allow us to be a world reference laboratory, COPEG details.

The Plant for the production of sterile flies It was inaugurated in 2006 in the Pacora sector of Panama and is designed to produce up to 100 million sterile insects per week, allowing the program to have sufficient production for dispersal.

COPEG also registered 544 cases, with visits to almost 700 farms across the country.

The provinces most affected by the presence of livestock are Bocas del Toro, Chiriquí, Darién, Coclé, Colón, Herrera, Los Santos, Panamá, Panamá Oeste, Veraguas and Emberá Wounaan and Ngäbe Bugle regions.

The beef fly is the larva of the “man-eating” fly Cochliomyia hominivorax that feeds on the living tissue of animals and humans.

This week, Ministry of Agricultural Development through the National Animal Health Administration of the Ministry of Agricultural Development, Panama-United States Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of the screwworm (COPEG)lExecutive Administration for Agricultural Quarantine (DECA) and representatives National Association of Cattle Breeders (ANAGAN) reviewed the planned activities for 2024 within the framework Worm eradication and prevention plan.

During this meeting, it was agreed to reorganize and strengthen the work teams to strengthen eradication actions that include on-farm surveillance and auctions; taking and sending samples of larvae; release of sterile flies on land, organization of training, distribution at fair events and transmission of videos via radio programs.

Tips
It is important for farmers to know that in any wound, no matter how small it looks like a tick bite, the GBG fly can lay its eggs, which is why it is necessary to check the animals daily to detect possible scratches. or wounds regardless of the wound.size.

It is vitally important to continue to collect worm samples to monitor pest control and determine persistence should any test positive.

By controlling the movement of animals, we prevent the spread of rinderpest to areas without this insect. Currently, COPEG has five checkpoints located at strategic points across the country, which operate 24 hours a day for proper inspection of animals.

Presence Livestock sharzar causes restrictions on international trade, causes death 7-10 days after infestation in animals without treatment for re-infestations, toxicity or secondary infections.

For producers, it causes the confiscation of affected areas in slaughterhouses. In terms of animal health, it can cause fever, caries, reduced appetite (anorexia), localized pain in the affected area, restlessness, ulcers, ulcers, significant infections in calves due to the entry of bacteria through the navel affected by GBG, such as that which causes bacterial polyarthritis.

In the same way, milk production can be reduced in dairy animals (various or large infestations), and in the case of meat animals, low growth and/or weight gain.