Researchers in California have launched a monitoring program aimed at detecting a potential threat before it develops.
The program is led by the University of California, Riverside, and is supported by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
This is not a response to an active invasion, but a preventive measure.
Monitoring is carried out in part through the use of traps that can detect specific fly species if they appear.
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At the same time, veterinarians and farmers are being encouraged to react quickly if animals develop wounds that behave differently from usual.
Why is California vulnerable?
California has a large livestock industry, particularly in dairy production. According to researchers, this sector is especially vulnerable to parasites that attack living tissue.
Minor injuries in animals are part of everyday life in agriculture and can occur through fencing, births, or routine procedures.
Today, animals are transported more frequently and over longer distances than in the past. This increases the risk that diseases and pests are transported along with them.
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The USDA has previously pointed out that global trade and transportation make biological control more complex than before.
A threat from the past
The parasite being monitored by researchers was eradicated in the United States about 60 years ago.
According to the USDA, this was achieved through an extensive program that used sterile insects to halt reproduction.
A control zone was subsequently maintained further south.
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However, the insect has since been found again in parts of Central America and Mexico.
It has not yet been detected in California. That is precisely why monitoring is important.
Experience shows that early intervention is far easier than dealing with a full-scale outbreak.
Sources: Science Daily, and University of California Riverside.
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