New World Screwworm Federal Response Continues

USDA Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins was recently in La Pryor, Texas, the site of the first case of the New World screwworm reported since the 1960s. She took part in a round table to talk more about the New World screwworm.

“Flies on the ground, but also 4 million from the air, other than that initial second detection, which was about five miles away. We've had no other detections in this area. Doesn't mean there won't be more, but this technology works.”

In addition, she says USDA has a facility in Texas, which is helping with detection efforts.

“We've moved the actual testing from Iowa down to our brand new facility, so very, very important to have the best scientists, best researchers, best technicians on the field. Rollins also reports the full recovery of the first calf found with the new world screwworm in the US.”

“He couldn't be happier, he's bouncing around the pasture completely healed, ready to go back into the herd.”

More federal agencies are now directly involved in a fight against the new world screwworm as the response continues to expand across the southern states. Alongside the USDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has activated a New World screwworm emergency plan. The Environmental Protection Agency approved the Novo fly, the new sterile male strain designed to boost fly release capacity. The Department of Health and Human Services has deployed federal veterinarians to the region, and the Army Corps of Engineers assisted with regulatory work and construction at the Stero Fly facility in Edinburgh, Texas.