US Launches Major Initiative to Combat Screwworm Infestation
The US Has a Plan to Combat Screwworm. It Involves a Lot More Flies
Image: Wired
The US is implementing a robust plan to combat the reemergence of screwworms, which could threaten livestock and wildlife. This includes releasing up to 400 million sterile flies weekly, with facilities being upgraded in Mexico and Texas to enhance production.
- 01Screwworms, eliminated in the US in 1966, have reappeared in Mexico, prompting fears of an outbreak in the US as early as summer 2025.
- 02The USDA is currently releasing 4 million sterile flies per week and plans to increase this to 100 million weekly along the US-Mexico border.
- 03A new facility in Mexico is being renovated to produce an additional 60 to 100 million sterile flies per week, funded by a $21 million investment.
- 04The USDA is also constructing a $750 million sterile fly facility in Edinburg, Texas, expected to be operational by November 2027.
- 05Since 2023, over 2,070 human cases of screwworm have been reported in Mexico and Central America, highlighting the pest's potential threat to public health.
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The reemergence of screwworms, which were eliminated in the US in 1966, poses a significant threat to livestock and wildlife, especially with their recent presence in Mexico. To combat this, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is deploying a strategy involving the release of sterile screwworm flies, a method known as the sterile insect technique. This method, first successfully used in the 1950s, involves sterilizing male flies so that they produce no viable offspring when they mate with wild females. Currently, the USDA is releasing 4 million sterile flies weekly and aims to ramp this up to 400 million per week. To achieve this, they are investing $21 million to upgrade a facility in Mexico and are constructing a new $750 million facility in Edinburg, Texas, expected to be operational by November 2027. Since 2023, there have been over 2,070 human cases of screwworm in Mexico and Central America, indicating the pest's potential public health risks. Experts believe that while eradication is possible, more cases may emerge as the flies can lay hundreds to thousands of eggs at a time.
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The USDA's initiatives aim to prevent a screwworm outbreak that could devastate livestock in South Texas and surrounding areas.
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More about US Department of Agriculture
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