AUSTIN, TX – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced an expanded plan to prevent the northward spread of the New World Screwworm from Mexico into the United States. The pest, which infests livestock, pets, wildlife, and occasionally people, poses a serious threat to both animal health and U.S. agriculture.
At the center of USDA’s effort is the construction of a new sterile fly production facility in Edinburg, Texas. The facility will be capable of producing 300 million sterile flies per week, complementing existing operations in Panama and Mexico. This approach, known as the sterile insect technique, has been proven to contain and roll back screwworm outbreaks. USDA officials say the facility will reduce reliance on foreign production and strengthen national security.
Additional steps include training detector dogs, expanding mounted border patrols, and enhancing collaboration with Mexican authorities to contain the pest south of the border. USDA is also investing $100 million into research and technology to improve sterile fly production and develop new prevention tools. Officials emphasize that no screwworm cases have been reported in U.S. animals to date, but the pest threatens more than $100 billion in economic activity tied to livestock.