USDA invests $21 million in screwworm sterile fly production

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is ramping up efforts to control the New World Screwworm with a $21 million investment in a new sterile insect production facility in Metapa, Mexico. The announcement came during a bilateral call between U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and her Mexican counterpart, Secretary Julio Berdegué Sacristán, as both nations reaffirmed their commitment to containing the spread of the destructive livestock pest.

The New World Screwworm, a parasitic insect that preys on warm-blooded animals, poses a significant threat to livestock health, rural economies, and national food security. It was eradicated in the U.S. in the 1980s through a coordinated regional campaign, but persistent threats in parts of Mexico and Central America continue to pressure the U.S. border.

“Our partnership with Mexico is crucial in making this effort a success,” Rollins said. “We are continuing to work closely with Mexico to push NWS away from the United States and out of Mexico. The investment I am announcing today is one of many efforts my team is making around the clock to protect our animals, our farm economy, and the security of our nation’s food supply.”

The USDA currently uses a sterile insect technique to control screwworm populations, relying on production and release operations based at the COPEG facility in Panama. Each week, up to 100 million sterile flies are dispersed by air in affected regions. The additional production capacity from the upgraded facility in Metapa will add 60 to 100 million sterile flies per week, doubling USDA’s reach and enabling a more aggressive push southward.

This expansion is part of a broader cooperative effort between USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and its Mexican counterparts. The agencies continue to meet regularly to coordinate surveillance strategies, streamline regulatory requirements, and enforce animal movement controls to contain the pest.

Last week, a Mexican delegation visited Washington, D.C., for technical meetings with APHIS leadership. In the coming weeks, a U.S. technical team will travel to Mexico to evaluate conditions on the ground and assist with surveillance improvements.

Meanwhile, USDA is maintaining its restrictions on live animal imports from Mexico to limit potential NWS transmission. These measures are reviewed monthly and will remain in place as long as the threat persists.

The new investment signals USDA’s long-term commitment to collaborative eradication strategies that defend both animal health and economic stability in rural America.