Residents in Chiapas demand closure of sterile screwworm fly facility over smell
People in Metapa de Dominguez, Chiapas, protested the strong odor coming from a sterile-fly plant used in the U.S.-Mexico screwworm campaign. They said the smell resembles rotting meat, causes nausea, and has reached schools, and they want the facility moved away from the town center. The plant opened in June with U.S. funding and is expected to produce up to 100 million sterile flies weekly to help suppress the parasite.
The Metapa de Dominguez facility opened on June 27, with Mexico’s president and the U.S. agriculture secretary attending. Washington contributed $21 million to the $51 million project. It is designed to eventually produce as many as 100 million sterile flies each week.
The plant raises larvae on a mixture including egg, milk, and powdered hemoglobin, mimicking wound conditions. Sterilized flies are then released to mate with wild females without reproducing. Mexico has reported almost 48,000 cases in the current outbreak, while the United States has recorded 53.
The dispute could affect residents’ daily comfort and schooling, as odors may worsen quality of life and fuel local frustration. It may also influence public acceptance of the sterile-fly campaign, which is tied to protecting livestock and cross-border cattle trade. If concerns persist, officials could face pressure to improve odor controls or relocate operations, with possible consequences for outbreak response and local livelihoods.