US agriculture and health officials have announced a comprehensive plan to address the outbreak of the New World Screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite first detected in the US since 1966. The infection was found in a calf in La Pryor, Texas, prompting the establishment of a 20km-wide control zone. The strategy involves deploying hundreds of millions of genetically-altered sterile flies, which are intended to mate with wild females, resulting in infertile eggs and reducing the population. However, experts warn that the current production capacity of 100 million sterile flies per week is insufficient to combat the outbreak effectively, as up to 600 million are needed weekly. Additionally, specialized detection dogs, known as the 'Beagle Brigade', will be used at borders to help identify the screwworms. While the immediate threat to humans is low, cattle ranchers are concerned about the potential impact on beef markets. The USDA's Secretary Brooke Rollins has attributed the northward spread of screwworms to open border policies and criticized the Mexican government's response. Critics argue that the federal response has been slow and inadequate.