USDA Announces New World Screwworm Strategy

USDA is spending $8.5 million to create a New World Screwworm fly dispersal facility at the Moore Air Base in South Texas. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins also announced a five-pronged plan to address devastating pest. This strategy includes USDA’s recent $21 million investment to remodel an existing fruit fly production facility in Mexico. This site will provide an additional 60-to-100 million sterile flies per week to stop the spread of screwworm. That’s on top of the 100 million flies already produced in Panama. USDA has also completed an in-person audit of Mexico’s animal health control measures. The screwworm has been found 700 miles from the U.S. border, which resulted in the closing of the border to Mexican cattle imports six weeks ago.