The facility will have the capacity to produce 300 million sterile screwworm flies per week, tripling the current capacity to combat the New World screwworm threat.
EDINBURG, Texas — Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Friday announced a new $750 million facility to sterilize New World screwworm flies and prevent their reproduction.
The facility is set to be built in Edinburg, Texas, right along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The United States currently has no domestic sterile screwworm production and relies on flies from Panama for all operational outbreak needs, according to a press release from Abbott’s office.
“Texas agricultural producers feed the world, with our state’s food and agriculture sector supporting over 2 million good-paying jobs and creating over $867 billion in total economic impact,” said Gov. Abbott. “All of this is at risk because of the New World screwworm. Working with Secretary Rollins and agricultural community leaders nationwide, we will combat the New World screwworm threat right here in Texas by building a new $750 million facility to breed hundreds of millions of sterile screwworm flies. Together, we will eradicate New World screwworm threat to protect our nation’s food supply and economy.”
What are New World Screwworms?
The New World Screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae infest and feed on warm-blooded animals, including livestock, wildlife, and, in rare cases, humans. Left untreated, infestations can be fatal. The USDA recently halted live animal imports at the southern border due to growing outbreaks in Mexico.
The Trump administration suspended imports of Mexican beef cattle earlier this year due to the detection of screwworm in shipments.
How is Texas fighting New World Screwworms?
In June, Gov. Abbott directed the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Animal Health Commission to establish a joint Texas New World Screwworm Response Team following the recent northward spread of the New World screwworm (NWS).
This $750 million Edinburg facility will have the capacity to produce 300 million sterile screwworm flies per week, tripling the current capacity to combat the New World screwworm threat, according to Abbott’s office.
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