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A billion flies are now in the screwworm fight. Will there be enough?
Texas officials say sterile flies marked with UV dye are being used to curb the parasite, with fewer than 50 U.S. cases reported this year.
- The United States government released its billionth sterile fly into Texas to combat the New World screwworm, a pest threatening the Great American Cattle Herd with potential $2.5 billion in damage across the Southwest.
- Since the pest broke through containment lines in the Darien Gap in 2023, The Trump Administration has moved to ramp up sterile fly production across Texas, Mexico, and Panama to protect the industry.
- USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins stated the nation needs 400 million to 500 million flies per week to "beat this back." Currently, Panama and Mexico facilities each produce 100 million flies weekly.
- Federal efforts have kept cases low, with less than 50 recorded in America this year. Officials report only three active cases currently and not a single case in cattle in over a month.
- The USDA is testing Novofly, a genetically altered male-only fly designed to double production efficiency. However, some experts express doubt that current efforts will solve the long-term infestation problem anytime soon.
Insights by Ground AI
23 Articles
23 Articles
Much depends on the bright green backs of large sterile red-eyed flies, raised by scientists from the United States, Mexico and Panama.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources23
Leaning Left2Leaning Right0Center21Last UpdatedBias Distribution91% Center
Bias Distribution
- 91% of the sources are Center
91% Center
C 91%
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