U.S. officials have broken ground on a new facility in Texas to combat the spread of the New World Screwworm (NWS), a flesh-eating parasite threatening livestock and public health. The sterile fly production facility, located at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, will produce 300 million sterile flies per week once operational, significantly expanding the nation's capacity to counter the pest.
The NWS, which lays eggs in open wounds and body openings of warm-blooded animals and humans, has been detected 70 miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border in Mexico, raising concerns about its potential spread into the U.S. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller described the situation as a "direct and imminent threat" to the state's livestock industry and food supply.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Army are collaborating on the project, which is being constructed on an aggressive timeline. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins emphasized the threat posed by the NWS, stating it endangers herds, rural economies, and the food supply chain. The facility will produce billions of sterile flies to be released in affected areas to eradicate the pest.
The NWS, a parasitic fly native to South America, has been eradicated from the U.S. before but has recently re-emerged in Mexico. The maggots burrow into living tissue, causing severe damage and potentially fatal infections if untreated. The CDC warns that the fly poses a significant risk to both animals and humans.
Officials are working along the U.S.-Mexico border to prepare for the potential arrival of the screwworm, with the new facility expected to play a crucial role in containment efforts.