August 17, 2025

Texas to Combat New World Screwworm with $750 Million Facility

News Summary

The U.S. government plans to invest $750 million in a facility at Moore Air Base, Texas, to produce sterile New World screwworm flies. This initiative is crucial for protecting the state’s cattle industry from flesh-eating pests threatening livestock health. With collaboration from Mexican authorities, the facility aims to mitigate economic losses while safeguarding the agricultural heritage of Texas.

Texas

The U.S. government has announced a significant investment of $750 million to build a factory in southern Texas aimed at combating the threat of the New World screwworm, a pest that poses a serious risk to the cattle industry. This initiative was revealed by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins on August 15, 2025, as part of a broader strategy to protect American livestock from infestations originating from Mexico.

The proposed facility, located at Moore Air Base outside Edinburg, Texas—approximately 20 miles from the border—is expected to begin producing and deploying sterile male New World screwworm flies within a year of its opening. The sterile flies are intended to mate with wild females, resulting in sterile eggs and eventually reducing the overall population of the pest.

In addition to the factory investment, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will also allocate an additional $100 million for developing pest management technologies, including fly traps and lures, to further bolster their efforts against the screwworm threat. These measures are part of a comprehensive biological control strategy that aims to mitigate the risk of the pest spreading into the U.S.

Authorities are also set to increase border patrol measures, which will include the use of “tick riders” on horseback and specially trained dogs to detect the presence of the screwworm. The U.S. has implemented a ban on the importation of cattle, horses, and bison from Mexico until this pest is successfully contained, reflecting the seriousness of the situation.

The U.S. has closed its border to these imports three times in the past eight months, with the latest closure occurring in July after reports of infestations approximately 370 miles from the Texas border. Officials warn that if the New World screwworm spreads, potential economic losses in the cattle industry could reach billions of dollars.

The New World screwworm larvae, which are flesh-eating maggots, can infest not only livestock but also wildlife, pets, and, in rare cases, humans. This broad scope of impact raises significant public health and economic concerns. Secretary Rollins noted that the security of agricultural resources is closely tied to national security, emphasizing the importance of addressing this threat promptly.

Historically, the New World screwworm was successfully eradicated from the U.S. in the 1970s using similar techniques of breeding and releasing sterile flies. However, the pest has sporadically reemerged in North America, originating from areas such as Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and some South American countries.

The Mexican cattle industry has already faced challenges due to infestation and the consequencing U.S. border restrictions. In response to the mutual threat posed by the screwworm, Mexican Agriculture Secretary Julio Berdegué Sacristán and U.S. officials have signed a screwworm control action plan to monitor and address the pest within Mexico, showcasing a cooperative effort to combat this agricultural crisis.

A factory currently operating in Panama can breed as many as 117 million sterile flies per week, while the new facility in Texas is projected to produce 300 million sterile flies on a weekly basis. This increased capacity is crucial in the fight against the screwworm, which was last responsible for a major outbreak in the U.S. during the 1960s, resulting in severe declines in local wildlife, including a devastating 80% reduction in the white-tailed deer population in Texas.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has expressed his concerns about the potential ramifications of a screwworm outbreak on the state’s livestock and food supply, labeling the situation as critical for the state’s economy.

As the situation develops, the investment and proactive measures by the U.S. government recognize the immediate need to protect the agricultural sector from threats that could have widespread implications for food security and economic stability.

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Author: STAFF HERE GEORGETOWN

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