Nordion Technology to Help Control Spread of New World Screwworm in Mexico

The New World screwworm is a species of parasitic fly that eats live tissue. After being eradicated in Mexico for decades, the parasite reappeared in 2024, posing a threat to the country’s $10 billion beef industry and endangering tens of thousands of jobs.

The spread of the screwworm can be effectively controlled using the Sterile Insect Technique, a form of insect “birth control” that reduces the number of insects in each generation using very small doses of radiation. Last year, Nordion was approached to help assess and update the screwworm irradiation facility operated by SENASICA, Mexico’s National Service of Health, Safety and Agri-Food Quality, and help protect Mexico’s agriculture and livestock industries.

Learn more about this innovative application for Cobalt-60.