USDA Investing More to Control New World Screwworm
Lorrie Boyer
Reporter
"The NWS is a scourge that is making its way from Latin America up through Mexico, and if it hits America, it is going to be absolutely devastating to our cattle industry at the top of the list, frankly, to a lot of our
industries."
Rollins says that USDA is working daily with Mexico to make sure the resources, tactics, and tools are in place to effectively eradicate the NWS. Additionally, she announced that the USA is investing $21 million to renovate an existing fruit fly production facility in Mexico to further the long-term goal of eradicating this insect. When operational, this facility will produce 60 to 100 million additional sterile NWS flies weekly to push the population further south back into Mexico. Currently, the US-supported sterile insect rearing and dispersal operations in Mexico and Central America have been operating at full production capacity. All flies used today are raised in the Panama, United States Commission for the eradication and prevention of screw worm facility in Panama. This investment in the Mexico facility will allow USDA to double its use of the sterile flies. Current restrictions on live animal imports from Mexico remain in place. USDA continues to evaluate the current suspension every 30 days.
