An outbreak of screwworms has spread across Central America, affecting agricultural trade and prompting the construction of facilities to control them.

The screwworm outbreak began in Central America in early 2023, affecting several countries and raising concerns in the US. These pests, which feed on animals, have prompted the closure of some trade points. The US has eradicated the insects in the past using a sterile fly-release strategy. Now a factory is being built in Mexico that will produce 100 million sterile flies a week to combat the spread of screwworms.