The Screwworm as a Pest in the Caribbean and Plans for its Eradication from Jamaica and the Other Infested Islands Using the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT)

George H. Grant, Cedric Lazarus, J. Wendell Snow and Moises Vargas Teran

No 256912, 34th Annual Meeting, July 12-18, 1998, Jamaica from Caribbean Food Crops Society

Abstract: The New World Screwworm (NWS) •Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel) has been shown to beofwidespread occurrence and distribution in the majority of countries in the Caribbean Region. Its occurrence is without regard to seasonal variations, type of ecological community and altitude. This pest currently presents a serious problem for these countries making for significant economic losses to the livestock industry in addition to posing potential public health risks. A programme for the eradication of this insect pest has been initiated in Jamaica. Annual losses due to NWS infestation in this particular country are estimated to range from US$S.5 B 7.7 million. The eradication of this pest should serve to eliminate the current losses while greatly contributing improvement ofthe expansion ofthe Jamaican livestock industry. It is expected that a successful Jamaican programme will serve as a model for future progranunes in the other Caribbean countries namely, Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic which have also been confmned as being NWS infested. Eventually the entire Caribbean should be screwworm free with the exception of Trinidad and Tobago which will have to be eradicated in association with South America. This paper will discuss the current status of the NWS eradication efforts in Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean.

Keywords: Crop Production/Industries; Food Security and Poverty (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 8
Date: 1998-07-12
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:cfcs98:256912

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.256912

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