Hi Vasco, thanks a lot for the comment, it's genuinely helping us improve a document we're working on. 

To clarify: we're using the concept "excruciating" for two reasons: First of all, it is the term used in reports of human NWS infections, along with "severe". Secondly, we do think that in the most advanced stages of NWS infections, the pain experienced corresponds to what WFI defines as "excruciating", as animals will have big areas of innervated tissue being eaten by the larvae. In less advanced stages, it will correspond to what WFI defines as "disabling":

Pain at this level takes priority over most bids for behavioural execution and prevents most forms of enjoyment or positive welfare. Pain is continuously distressing. Individuals affected by harms in this category often change their activity levels drastically (the degree of disruption in the ability of an organism to function optimally should not be confused with the overt expression of Pain behaviors, which is less likely in prey species). Inattention and unresponsiveness to milder forms of Pain or other ongoing stimuli and surroundings is likely to be observed.

We're currently working with a team of researchers who are helping us elaborate a thorough CEA of the intervention, and this will be accurately captured, so SFF will have more detailed information about this soon.

Beyond thanking you for writing this paper (which I have been waiting for for months), I need to thank you for summarizing and disseminating it. I think moral and political philosophers hardly ever do this, which often leads to their work not being read outside academic circles. 

Now, I’m curious to hear your view on the main bottleneck preventing these solutions from being implemented. I.e., if you were to start an organization, what would you focus on? Policy, actionable research, targeted attitude change...?

Hey Kevin, thanks a lot for the interest. Would you mind reaching out to me at diego@screwworm.org? Thanks a lot!

This is so exciting! As you (Richard) know, this idea has been in my mind for years, waiting for the opportunity to materialise it. It's great to see that people as capable as both of you are finally taking on this challenge. I wish you all the best, looking forward to potential collaborations.