New World screwworm resurgence linked to climate‑driven livestock practices and gaps in global parasite surveillance
Original framing: “Q&A: Flesh-eating screwworms have returned. Which new technologies could stop them?” — Phys.org
Recent genomic sequencing of Cochliomyia hominivorax clarifies its temperature‑dependent developmental thresholds, confirming climate models that predict northward expansion. Field trials of genetically sterilized males demonstrate >95% reduction in local populations when released in coordinated swarms.
The screwworm resurgence is not merely a biological anomaly but the product of climate‑driven range shifts, intensive livestock systems, and fragmented surveillance rooted in historic eradication policies.
By weaving together indigenous deterrent practices, historical lessons from the mid‑20th‑century sterile‑insect program, and cutting‑edge genomic and climate modelling, a multi‑layered One Health framework can anticipate and curb future outbreaks. Empowering marginalised livestock keepers—especially women—through participatory monitoring and agroecological reforms ensures that control measures are socially equitable and ecologically resilient. Ultimately, a hybrid strategy that couples sterile‑insect releases with native biological agents and culturally attuned management will transform the threat into a manageable, systemic challenge.