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Texas and USDA intensify surveillance and sterile fly strategy to contain New World screwworm outbreak

As additional cases of New World screwworm are being confirmed, the state of Texas and the US Department of Agriculture are stepping up efforts to stop its spread.  

Dr. Bud Dinges, Texas State Veterinarian, says animal surveillance remains critical to containing the pest. “This is a highly treatable condition that, if caught early, can be treated, and spread prevented,” he says.   Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins says increasing the number of flies is critical in the fight against New World screwworm.  
 
USDA Undersecretary for Research, Education, and Economics Dr. Scott Hutchins says the Agricultural Research Service has developed a novel fly strain called NovoFly that will double the number of sterile flies produced. “Because it’s going to allow us to produce only male sterile flies,” he says. “So if you have a plant that produces 100 million flies as we do today, fifty percent of those are sterile females. They do us no good in this particular fight. So by going to one hundred percent male sterile males, we’re able to instantly double our production.” 
 
Secretary Rollins told reporters during a news conference on Monday, the USDA is aggressively working to eradicate the pest. “Our goal is to have enough sterile flies deployed and out into Texas and wherever else this happens to be before the next summer season pops up,” she says. 
 
In an interview with Brownfield last week, Rollins said she expects the sterile fly production facility in Metapa, Mexico to start producing sterile flies this month, and by the end of 2026, it will produce 100 million flies each week.  

 The USDA has confirmed 5 cases of New World screwworm, four in Texas, and one in New Mexico.  For each new detection, a more than 12-mile infested zone has been established with quarantines, movement controls, and heightened surveillance.  

USDA is urging residents in the area to check animals for draining or enlarging wounds, maggots or egg masses, signs of discomfort, or lesions in body openings.   

Rear Admiral Michael Schmoyer, association administrator for the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service says any suspected detection of New World screwworm needs to be reported. “You want this to get over quicker, have people report, ask people to report, beg people to report,” he says. “That’s what we need. Being able to disperse those flies, you know, the science is going to tell us where to go, and it’ll also determine how long we do it and also whether we need to shift.” 
 
New World screwworm is not a food safety issue.