Eradication of the screwworm from Libya using the sterile insect technique

The introduction in 1988 of the New World screwworm into Libya presented a serious threat to the livestock and wildlife sectors o f the African continent and the Mediterranean region. In this article, Moisés Vargas-Terán, Brian S. Hursey and Edward P. Cunningham describe the action taken to determine the extent of the problem, to prevent the spread of the infestation and to eradicate the fly from the region using the sterile insect technique.