In what is being described as an unprecedented operation, the United States has begun releasing nearly 14 million live flies each week over Panama’s jungles. Using cutting-edge technology with precision akin to a surgical strike.
This action, which might appear to be a massive attack, is actually a strategic measure to combat a plague threatening both animal and human health in Central America.
The operation targets the Cochliomyia hominivorax, an insect whose larvae infiltrate the living tissue of animals and even humans, causing severe infections and, in some cases, death. This effort aims to protect public health and prevent long-term tragedies, according to experts on the subject.
The Release of Millions of Flies Over Panama
The effort by the United States is part of an international protection strategy, with the support of the Panamanian government, which has approved the intervention, reported AP. While the image of thousands of insects being released may cause unease, the intention behind this large-scale deployment is to halt one of the region’s most dangerous biological threats, the Cochliomyia hominivorax, also known as the “screwworm fly.”
By the end of 2024, according to data from the Panama-United States Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of the Screwworm in Livestock (COPEG), there were 15,638 cases recorded between both countries.
The plague, which has rapidly advanced in North America in 2025, primarily affects the livestock sector and rural communities, jeopardizing food security and economic stability.
For this reason, the U.S. government has opted for a biological intervention, launching the operation with the goal of establishing a natural barrier in the narrow isthmus of Panama, which serves as a key defense point to prevent the plague from spreading northward across the continent.
The Objective of the Operation
The Cochliomyia hominivorax is an insect whose larvae can invade the living tissue of animals, causing deep wounds, infections, and, in extreme cases, the death of those affected. This species not only impacts livestock but can also attack humans, making the plague a threat to public health.
The potential damage this fly can inflict on agricultural and livestock ecosystems is significant. In fact, its presence has triggered alarms in North American countries, where ranchers and health authorities have been forced to take urgent measures to stop its advance.
The Insect Technique and Its Implementation
As detailed by the ANPanamá agency, the method used by the United States to combat this plague is based on the so-called Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), an innovative biotechnological strategy that has been key in controlling pests in various parts of the world. This process involves mass-rearing male flies in specialized laboratories, sterilizing them through controlled radiation, and then releasing them into the wild.
The sterile males cannot reproduce, and when they mate with wild females, they prevent them from laying viable eggs, which eventually reduces the insect population.
The use of SIT is not new and has been employed in other instances to eradicate pests in the United States, but the novelty of this operation lies in its implementation in Panama, a strategic point for biological containment.
As a narrow geographic strip between two continents, the country becomes the ideal natural barrier to prevent the plague from advancing northward, protecting not only Central America but also the vast livestock areas of North America.
This biological operation, which takes place weekly, has become a key piece in the continent’s animal health security strategy.
Panama, with the logistical and technological support of the United States, has transformed into the sanitary shield of the Western Hemisphere, helping protect millions of livestock and contain a plague that could have devastating consequences for the agricultural and livestock economy of the region.
Through this joint effort, the United States and Panama aim to eradicate the Cochliomyia and ensure the region’s sanitary stability, preventing infections associated with the plague from spreading to broader communities. The operation responds to a public health and economic security imperative affecting several nations on the continent.
Image: Infobae
