The Trump Administration is implementing efforts to stop the New World Screwworm, a parasite that has re-emerged in Mexico. This parasite infests the wounds of warm-blooded animals, causing significant livestock losses. The USDA will use the Sterile Insect Technique by releasing irradiated male flies to reduce the wild population. A breeding facility in southern Texas will support this operation, aiming to produce 400 million flies per week. Investments totaling $29.5 million are being made to support this initiative across Texas and Mexico.
Scientists are preparing to breed and drop billions of flies on Mexico to halt a flesh-eating parasite from crossing the border. The Trump Administration is leading the effort to prevent the spread of the New World Screwworm, which was eradicated in the US over 40 years ago but resurfaced in Mexico in late 2024.
According to US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the scientific name for the parasite, Cochliomyia hominivorax, roughly translates to 'man-eater.' This parasite lays its eggs in the wounds of warm-blooded animals, causing tissue damage and often kills livestock within two weeks if left untreated.
Scientists will use a proven method called the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) in which male screwworm flies will be irradiated to make them sterile, then released by planes across southern Mexico and parts of Texas starting in mid-2025. These sterile flies will mate with wild females, preventing reproduction and gradually reducing the population over time.
While a fly factory in Panama produces 117 million flies per week, the USDA is ramping up efforts, aiming for 400 million flies weekly by leveraging new plants in Texas and Mexico.
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