By Abbey Canon
The New World screwworm is rapidly spreading northward in Mexico, moving closer to the U.S. border. This parasitic fly infests mammals, including livestock, wildlife and sometimes people, causing severe tissue damage or death if left untreated.
To advance research into this devastating pest, the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research’s (FFAR) rapid response program, Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR), is seeking research proposals on New World screwworm risk assessment, prevention and treatment.
The New World screwworm was eradicated in the U.S. in 1966; however, over the past few years, it has been increasingly detected in Panama and Mexico.