logo
Sniffer dogs help Mexico fight the flesh-eating screwworm

Sniffer dogs help Mexico fight the flesh-eating screwworm

Globe and Mail11-07-2025
With tail wagging, tongue out and ears perked, Hummer – a young mixed breed dog with a slick black coat – sits down in front of a sample of screwworm scent, promptly accepting praise and treats from his handler.
Trained to detect the smell of screwworm, a flesh-eating pest that has infected Mexico's cattle herd and disrupted livestock trade with the United States, Hummer and his canine colleagues offer a glimmer of hope in controlling the worm.
At a government-run training center about an hour outside Mexico City, officials from a special unit of the country's health safety agency Senasica run a three-month intensive training program for a select group of dogs to sniff out screwworm and other pests or diseases in live animals or agricultural products.
Most of the dogs are rescued from shelters, allowing animals that may have been abandoned for being too difficult to find a new life. Feisty pups that steal food from the table, never calm down and have a relentless desire to play are the perfect candidates.
'Sometimes what people don't want is the ideal for us,' said Cesar Dangu, head of the canine training center Ceacan. 'We also have to look for other qualities: that they don't get angry, they are affectionate, they can live with people and with other animals.'
Not all dogs respond to the aroma of screwworm, a pest that infests livestock and wildlife and carries maggots that burrow into the skin of living animals, causing serious and often fatal damage.
Some dogs will refuse to approach the aroma, Dangu said, making those that take to it even more valuable in their task.
After cases started emerging in Mexico, the U.S. closed its southern border to imports of certain livestock, including cattle, in May before a gradual reopening began this week.
On Wednesday, however, the U.S. government once again closed the border to cattle after a new case of screwworm was detected in Veracruz state, about 595 kilometres south of the U.S. border, a decision Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called 'exaggerated.'
On a sunny afternoon at Ceacan, just hours after the border closure announcement, the work of the dogs took on new urgency.
There are only six screwworm-sniffing dogs working at a livestock border passage in the southern state of Chiapas, which borders Guatemala, the heart of Mexico's screwworm infestation.
Havana, a two-year-old Shepherd mix, practices detecting screwworm on cow-sized equipment inside a greenhouse, a training exercise meant to mimic the sweltering heat the dogs must tolerate in Chiapas, said instructor Mayte Tontle.
'We want our dogs to adapt as much as possible to the real-life conditions,' Tontle said.
With at least 47 new cases of screwworm detected daily in Mexico, according to government data, the handful of highly trained canines are a small element of Mexico's response, which also includes a US$51-million facility in Chiapas to produce sterile flies to reduce the reproducing population of the wild flies.
The plant, with a hefty US$21-million investment from the U.S., is expected to be ready in the first half of 2026.
The dogs trained at Ceacan will work until they complete eight years on the job or turn 10 years old, whichever comes first.
After that, they retire.
'I would say 99 per cent of the dogs are adopted by their handler. There is an unbreakable link because of the love between the handler and the dog,' Dangu said.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Coca-Cola to release new Coke with sugar. Trump says it's 'better' than corn syrup. Is it?
Coca-Cola to release new Coke with sugar. Trump says it's 'better' than corn syrup. Is it?

National Post

time2 days ago

  • National Post

Coca-Cola to release new Coke with sugar. Trump says it's 'better' than corn syrup. Is it?

Coke preferences can get pretty niche. People in Canada and the United States have long waxed lyrical about the Mexican version. (Though some claim Colombian Coke is even better.) One of the most common reasons fans give for seeking out the nostalgic, glass-bottled Mexican import comes down to the sweetener. Our southern-most North American neighbour uses sugar, while the Canadian and American versions contain high-fructose corn syrup. Article content Article content Along with seed oils and artificial food dyes, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has targeted high-fructose corn syrup in his 'Make America Healthy Again' campaign. On July 16, President Donald Trump pitted the sweetener against sugar, saying that Coca-Cola had agreed to swap out corn syrup in its flagship product. Article content Article content On Tuesday, Coca-Cola announced that it will launch a new sugar-sweetened Coke product in the U.S. this fall. Article content Here's what you need to know about Trump's Coke claims, the case against high-fructose corn syrup and whether the choice of sweetener makes any difference to health. Article content Trump, who reportedly drinks a dozen cans of aspartame -containing Diet Coke a day and had a 'Diet Coke button' installed in the Oval Office's Resolute desk, said the cane sugar-sweetened version is 'just better!' But is it? Article content Article content 'When it comes to cane sugar versus corn syrup, both are refined sugars that contribute calories but offer no significant nutrients,' Toronto-based registered dietitian Amanda Natividad-Li said in an email to National Post. Article content Article content 'If you're reducing sugar for health or weight reasons, focusing on total added sugar intake is more important than choosing between cane sugar and corn syrup.'

Coca-Cola may swap out high-fructose corn syrup with cane sugar, Trump says. Is that healthier?
Coca-Cola may swap out high-fructose corn syrup with cane sugar, Trump says. Is that healthier?

CTV News

time6 days ago

  • CTV News

Coca-Cola may swap out high-fructose corn syrup with cane sugar, Trump says. Is that healthier?

Whether Coca-Cola swaps out high-fructose corn syrup for cane sugar remains to be seen. (Joshua Lott/Reuters via CNN Newsource) President Donald Trump announced this week that the Coca-Cola Company has agreed to his requests for the brand to use 'REAL' cane sugar in its U.S. products instead of high-fructose corn syrup. The company hasn't confirmed the swap, but high-fructose corn syrup has been one of many products targeted by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. in recent months. Kennedy called the common, cheap sweetener a 'formula for making you obese and diabetic' in a September episode of Dr. Jordan Peterson's podcast. Kennedy and the 'Make America Healthy Again' movement he leads have been lobbying the food and beverage industry to remove several ingredients from product formulations, including artificial food dyes and seed oils. While Coca-Cola is made with high-fructose corn syrup in the United States, its Mexican counterpart is made with cane sugar, a significant export of the country. The company did not confirm Trump's announcement and said it is unable to provide further comment at this time due to its upcoming earnings. Coca-Cola did issue a statement for a Thursday report, saying that 'more details on new innovative offerings within our Coca-Cola product range will be shared soon.' Is cane sugar soda better for you? Sugar-filled soda isn't good for you regardless of whatever sugar is used to sweeten it, according to health experts. 'Excess consumption of sugar from any source harms health,' said Eva Greenthal, senior policy scientist at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a non-profit consumer advocacy group, via email. 'What makes soda unhealthy is that it's liquid sugar, providing empty calories with no nutritional benefits. Swapping one type of sugar for another does nothing to make soda healthier.' 'To make the U.S. food supply healthier, the Trump administration should focus on less sugar, not different sugar,' added Greenthal, noting that CSPI and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene lobbied the US Food and Drug Administration to set added sugar reduction targets for the U.S. food supply, 'similar to FDA's existing sodium reduction targets for industry.' Greenthal urged the administration to implement this policy, while veteran nutrition researcher Dr. Walter C. Willett said there's even more to be done. 'If we are serious about reducing the adverse effects of sugar-sweetened soda, there are many steps we can take, including warning labels on these beverages, limiting sales in schools and other public places, and taxing, then using these taxes to support health and nutrition programs for children,' said Willett, a professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, via email. The corn refining industry opposes the possible swap, denying any nutritional benefit. 'Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar doesn't make sense,' said John Bode, president and CEO of the Corn Refiners Association, a trade association representing the corn refining market in the U.S., in a statement. 'President Trump stands for American manufacturing jobs, American farmers, and reducing the trade deficit. Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar would cost thousands of American food manufacturing jobs, depress farm income, and boost imports of foreign sugar, all with no nutritional benefit.' What is high-fructose corn syrup? Cane sugar is produced from sugarcane and is sucrose, a type of sugar naturally comprised of two simple sugars, glucose and fructose, in equal measure. Fructose is commonly called 'fruit sugar' since it naturally occurs in fruits and berries, according to the FDA. High-fructose corn syrup, on the other hand, is made from processed corn starch. Starch is a chain of glucose molecules joined together, according to the FDA. 'When corn starch is broken down into individual glucose molecules, the end product is corn syrup, which is essentially 100% glucose.' To turn that product into high-fructose corn syrup, enzymes are added to convert some of the glucose to fructose. Different formulations of high-fructose corn syrup contain varying amounts of fructose, but the most common forms carry either 42 per cent or 55 per cent fructose, while the rest is glucose and water, according to the FDA. The 42 per cent formulation is often used in processed foods including cereals and baked goods, while the 55 per cent version is primarily used in sodas. Our food supply didn't always include high-fructose corn syrup. Sucrose from sugarcane and sugar beets was the primary sweetener globally until 1957, according to Britannica. That's when said enzymes allowed a turning point in the sweetener industry burdened by the rising costs of sugar; sugar shortages and rations during World War II and the Cuban Revolution; and technological advances in sweetener production in Japan. Consumption of the cheap sweetener in the US began spiking in the 1970s, coinciding with government subsidies for corn farmers. Coca-Cola started using it in the early 1980s to lower costs except in Mexico. The new sweetener was also more stable than sugar, which helps increase product shelf life, according to Sue-Ellen Anderson-Haynes, a registered dietitian nutritionist, certified diabetes educator and owner of 360Girls&Women. Sugar vs. high-fructose corn syrup Most studies have supported the idea that 'from a nutritional standpoint, there's no difference between high-fructose corn syrup and sucrose,' said Dr. Marion Nestle, the Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, Emerita, at New York University. 'They have the same number of calories,' Nestle said. 'They taste the same.' And there's been a long-held idea that the body doesn't know the difference between the two. However, some recent research challenges this long-held conclusion, according to Anderson-Haynes, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 'In terms of how the body metabolizes it, it's a little different than straight sugar,' she said. Consumption of high-fructose corn syrup has been more associated with weight gain, obesity and dyslipidemia, abnormal levels of lipids, or fats, in the blood, Anderson-Haynes added. But it's also true that despite a decline in intake over the past 26 years, according to Britannica, rates of diabetes and obesity have continued to climb. Also, some studies report that 'fatty liver or inflammation in the liver overall really increased with subjects who consume high-fructose corn syrup versus subjects who consume sucrose,' she said. Another study found high-fructose corn syrup is linked to higher levels of C-reactive protein, a substance the liver produces in response to inflammation from various causes or sources. Scientists have also discovered links between consumption and insulin resistance, Anderson-Haynes said. That's a condition in which your muscle, fat and liver cells don't properly respond to insulin, which helps sugar enter your cells to be used for energy. Insulin resistance can lead to high blood sugar and type 2 diabetes. Recent research also found babies who consumed formula sweetened with corn syrup solids had higher blood sugar and a higher risk of obesity by age four than those who drank lactose-based formula or breastmilk. What about herbicides on corn? Most corn grown in the United States is genetically modified and nearly half is sprayed with glyphosate, a commonly used herbicide that's also another target of the MAHA movement. Glyphosate has most conclusively been linked to cancer, and some researchers are investigating potential connections to infertility and insulin resistance, Anderson-Haynes said. 'Evidence shows that GMO corn is perfectly safe to eat,' Greenthal said. 'But even if you're worried about the safety of GMOs, by the time an ear of corn becomes a soft drink, there's no genetic material left from the corn that made the (high-fructose corn syrup).' But really, herbicides should be the least of your worries when it comes to sugar, she said. 'A much more pressing concern is how the liquid sugar will affect your teeth and provide empty calories that can cause weight gain and increase your risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.' What should you be eating and drinking? The healthiest diet is one rich in whole foods, including fruits and vegetables, Anderson-Haynes said. She recommends avoiding added sugar but does think that if you're going to eat it, natural sugar is slightly better than high-fructose corn syrup. People should limit sugar intake to less than 25 grams, or about 6 teaspoons, per day, according to the World Health Organization and other institutions. That's about as much in 2 ½ chocolate chip cookies, 16 ounces of fruit punch or 1 ½ tablespoons of honey — or just a bit over half of a 12-ounce can of Coca-Cola. If you're having trouble kicking a soda habit, consider trying sparkling water with lemon and lime juice and ginger, Anderson-Haynes suggested. Kombucha without added sugar may also sate cravings. By Kristen Rogers, CNN

Thousands of Canadians abroad asked consulates for help last year. Here are the numbers
Thousands of Canadians abroad asked consulates for help last year. Here are the numbers

CTV News

time13-07-2025

  • CTV News

Thousands of Canadians abroad asked consulates for help last year. Here are the numbers

A man leaves the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C. on Friday, November 3, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette Last year, thousands of Canadians abroad turned to their nearest embassy or consulate for help in times of death, detainment and other crises. According to a recent report from Global Affairs Canada (GAC), some of those kinds of emergencies are on the rise. In the 2023-24 fiscal year, GAC opened 6,934 'consular cases,' or inquiries to help Canadians in 'difficult situations.' Those cases included more than 2,500 related to death, illness or injury, 1,500 for arrests, detainments and violent crime abroad and nearly 1,400 involving family-related concerns or wellness checks. In addition, GAC says it addressed 15,974 incidents involving issues such as lost, stolen, damaged or expired passports. 'Before travelling, make sure you know how to find the Government of Canada office nearest to your destination and understand the services it can and can't provide," reads the report published earlier this month. 'Every case is unique, and the level of service may vary.' Here's what to know about the latest numbers on Canadians seeking help abroad: Death and medical cases Roughly one in every five cases in 2023-24 was related to a death abroad, with the most cases opened in Mexico (204), followed by the United States (111), Hong Kong (87), the Dominican Republic (79) and Thailand (75). GAC notes that two-thirds of all death cases last year were due to natural causes, with the remainder including accidents such as drowning or transport collisions, and deaths by suicide. The department says help in these cases typically involves international funeral arrangements, liaising with local authorities and the repatriation of remains to Canada. A further 1,000 Canadians abroad approached a consulate for help with medical issues, including those seeking information on local health care providers and assistance in contacting relatives. GAC warns that, though consular officials can help with arranging medical evacuations from abroad, the Canadian government does not pay for the service on behalf of citizens, nor does it cover medical bills. Cuba led the world for medical consular cases among Canadians abroad last year, with 123. Crime and punishment Cases involving the justice system have risen substantially in the past year, according to the latest data. In 2023-24, GAC opened cases for 297 Canadians reported to be the victim of violent crimes including physical or sexual assaults, kidnappings and homicides. That figure represents a roughly 19 per cent increase from the year prior, the department notes. On the other side of the law, Canadians sought consular help close to 1,400 times last year over arrests or detainments abroad, up 20 per cent from 2022-23. GAC warns travellers that they are responsible for observing local laws, wherever they are. 'Consular officials can't arrange release from prison,' the report reads. 'If you are arrested, you are subject to the criminal justice system in that country.' Family concerns Last year, 746 Canadians approached consular officials with concerns about friends or loved ones abroad that they were unable to contact, up 12 per cent from the year before. Another 642 cases involved children, including custody disputes, abductions, welfare concerns and desertion. For adult travellers, GAC says it can contact registered Canadians abroad, but typically cannot share their location with others due to privacy concerns. 'It is up to the traveller to contact their family directly,' the report cautions. The department directs those concerned that a child may have been abducted abroad or prevented from returning to Canada to contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store