15. Conference of the OIE Regional Commission for the Americas Cartagena (Colombia), 7-10 March 2000. Screwworm eradication in the Americas | [15. Conférence de la Commission régionale de l'OIE pour les Amériques. Cartagène (Colombie), 7-10 mars 2000. Eradication de la lucile bouchère dans les Amériques] | 15. Conferencia de la Comision regional de la OIE para las Americas. Cartagena (Colombia), 7-10 de marzo de 2000. Erradicacion del gusano barrenador del ganado en las Americas

Although screwworms (Cochliomyia hominivorax, Coquerel) had long been recognized as a severe pest of animals in the southwestern United States, it was not until 1933, when screwworms first became established east of the Mississippi River that they were recognized as having a tremendous economic impact on livestock production. At that time, the research community became interested in control and eradication measures for this economic pest, which led to the development of the sterile insect technique (SIT) by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agriculture Research Service (ARS). This research culminated in the eradication of screwworms from the Island of Curaçao in 1954. This success led to the successful screwworm eradication program in the southeastern United States, by the USDA, ARS, Animal Disease Eradication Division and the involved States, from 1957-1959. Livestock producers in the southwestern United States watched the eradication efforts in the southeast with much interest, and a screwworm eradication program was begun in the southwestern United States in 1962. The United States was declared screwworm free in 1966 Due to continued outbreaks in the United States from Mexico and the interest of Mexican livestock producers in controlling screwworms, it was decided to eradicate screwworm in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mexico. An agreement was signed between the United States and Mexico on August 28, 1972, to form the Mexico-United States Commission for the Eradication of Screwworms (Commission). The Commission reached its objective in 1984. Further studies showed that Panama was a much better site for a biological barrier. Following indications of interest in screwworm eradication from all the Central American countries, a plan was developed to extend the Screwworm Eradication Program through Central America. Mexico was declared screwworm free on February 25, 1991, Guatemala on May 20, 1994, Belize on May 22, 1994, El Salvador on June 19, 1995, Honduras on August 6, 1996, and Nicaragua on October 19, 1999. Costa Rica's last screwworm case was recorded on June 15, 1999, and that country will be declared screwworm free sometime in 2000. Screwworms are well controlled in Panama and the program expects to see the last case before the end of 2000