The SIT is a highly effective method for controlling insect populations, but it requires careful planning and execution. The success of the SIT depends on several factors, including the availability of a suitable host, the presence of a target population, and the ability to control the release of sterile insects. The SIT is a relatively new technique, first used in the 1950s.

“The main objective of this decree is to have the necessary inputs to prevent the spread of this disease in the national territory,” says Luis Matamoros, Director General of Costa Rica’s National Animal Health Service (SENASA), which is part of the Ministry of Agriculture. “The IAEA’s support for the transfer of nuclear technology to apply the SIT is essential to prevent, control and eradicate the disease.” In March 2024, the IAEA organized a regional emergency response workshop in Costa Rica in collaboration with SENASA, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, the Regional International Organization for Plant Protection and Animal Health, and the USA-Panama Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of the New World Screwworm.

“This workshop was absolutely crucial,” says Walther Enkerlin, an entomologist at the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre. “Participants from national animal health services from across the region shared knowledge, strategies and resources. The goal was to develop a robust system for early detection, treatment methods and rapid response to control the New World screw worm infestation and promote its eradication using the SIT.” “Thanks to the training sessions supported by the IAEA’s technical cooperation programme, I now feel confident in diagnosing New World screw worm at both the adult and larvae stages and in applying effective eradication methods,” says Maria Gabriela Mejia, a participant from Honduras.

The IAEA continues to work closely with national animal health services across Latin America to facilitate the implementation of the SIT. It is sharing expertise on the comprehensive management of the pest and providing laboratory equipment and supplies. Moreover, the IAEA is assisting in the development of technical documents which will help to inform decision making by national authorities on applying the SIT as part of an area-wide integrated pest management approach.