Doctor faces hearing for eight deaths in Hermosillo

Binational cooperation against screwworm

The governments of Mexico and the United States launched a plant on Saturday in Chiapas to produce sterile flies, with the aim of stopping the advance of the screwworm. The plague has affected binational trade and raised alarms in both countries.

The complex is activated after the first case of the parasite was detected in the United States more than three weeks ago. So far, 20 infections have been confirmed in the United States, which motivated Donald Trump’s government to approve an additional $83.8 million to combat it.

The center is in Metapa de Domínguez, Chiapas. It represents the most recent effort in a collaboration that began last year. Mexico accumulates 1,907 active cases of screwworm.

The plant replaces one that closed in 2013, when Mexico was declared free of the pest and a binational agreement in force since 1972 ended. It now produces sterile flies as a biological control: it interrupts the reproductive cycle of Cochliomyia hominivorax, whose larvae invade tissues of warm-blooded animals, including humans.

During the reopening, President Claudia Sheinbaum stated:

“It is the conviction that development cooperation produces results. Animal diseases, pests and food security challenges know no borders. The best response is to add capabilities, share experience and build solutions.”

Also present were the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States, Brooke Rollins, and Ambassador Ronald Johnson, who announced the additional $83.8 million to reproduce more sterile flies in Mexico and reinforce prevention.

The joint investment to convert the old plant was 61 million dollars. It will produce 100 million sterile flies weekly, according to Senasica. Currently, Mexico is supplied from Panama, and another plant is being built in Texas that will begin operating next year.

Livestock farmers consider that the reopening is late. The first outbreaks emerged almost two years ago and the estimated production could be insufficient. Omar Ornelas, a rancher from Tuxtla Chico—a neighboring municipality—has an infested animal:

“I hope that now with the inauguration of the plant there will be support for the livestock area, because we have closed the United States border for the export of livestock and it affects the price of beef.”

To treat his cattle he has used homemade recipes, from veterinary products to diesel and lime.

The commercial impact is severe. On June 9, after infections in Texas, Mexico suspended the import of cattle, horses, sheep, goats and other species from the United States. In the last 18 months, the US closed the passage to Mexican cattle on three occasions. The most recent closure occurred on July 9, after locating an infected cattle in Ixhuatlán de Madero, Veracruz.

Strategic plant against livestock pest

President Claudia Sheinbaum inaugurated the Production Plant for Sterile Livestock Screwworm Flies (GBG) in Metapa de Domínguez, Chiapas. The project is binational between Mexico and the United States.

The facility will produce 100 million sterile insects each week. The objective: control the pest and strengthen animal health in both countries.

Sheinbaum highlighted that international cooperation generates results in the face of phytosanitary challenges that do not recognize borders. He thanked President Donald Trump and the US authorities for their financial and technical contribution.

Investment and results

The US ambassador to Mexico, Ronald D. Johnson, announced an additional investment of 83.8 million dollars. The resources will be used to intensify the fight against the pest, increase the production of sterile flies and strengthen preventive strategies.

The US Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke L. Rollins, described the achievement as an example of the success of coordinated work.

For her part, the Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, Columba Jazmín López Gutiérrez, explained that the plant was built in 12 months. As part of the containment actions, 5.3 million heads of cattle have been inspected, more than 84 thousand commercial shipments have been verified and 7 billion sterile flies have been released with the support of specialists.

The bilateral relationship, Sheinbaum stressed, must continue on mutual respect, constant dialogue and sovereignty.

Investigation in progress

The Attorney General’s Office of the State of Morelos initiated an investigation file against Víctor Rodríguez Padilla, former director of Petróleos Mexicanos, after the dissemination of a video in which he is seen allegedly attacking his wife, María Felicia Jiménez. The recording, which circulates on social networks, shows Rodríguez Padilla repeatedly hitting the victim inside a home in the municipality of Emiliano Zapata, adjacent to Cuernavaca. According to the metadata of the video, the attack occurred on March 15.

The state agency reported that since Friday it has been exchanging information with the Women’s Secretariat of the Government of Mexico to guarantee the protection of the victim.

“The Attorney General’s Office of the State of Morelos initiated an investigation folder for the probable criminal acts derived from the dissemination of a public complaint through a video, where an act of violence against a woman is seen,” cited the FGE.

Protection actions

The Morelos Prosecutor’s Office specified that the investigation was opened in full respect for the rights of women, girls, boys and adolescents. The statement indicates that the events probably occurred on March 15 inside a home in Emiliano Zapata, with the alleged participation of a former federal official.

The institution assumed the commitment to exhaust all measures to determine responsibilities and guarantee a life free of violence for the victim. So far, no precautionary measures have been reported against Rodríguez Padilla, and the investigation is still ongoing.