US Government Deploys Sterilized Flies to Combat Screwworm Threat in Mexico and Texas
The United States government is set to release billions of sterilized flies from airplanes over Mexico and southern Texas as part of a targeted effort to eradicate the screwworm fly, a parasite that poses a significant threat to livestock, wildlife, and pets. This initiative is being spearheaded by the USDA, which aims to protect the agricultural industry, which is vital to the regional economy.
Unlike typical flies that feed on decaying tissue, the screwworm fly is particularly dangerous as it lays its eggs in open wounds or mucous membranes of living warm-blood, which can lead to severe infections or even death if left untreated. Dr. Michael Bailey, president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association, emphasized the severity of the threat, stating that ‘a thousand-pound bovine can be dead from this in two weeks.’
As part of the strategy, the USDA is planning to mass-breed adult male flies and sterilize them using radiation. These sterile males will be released into the wild, where they will mate with wild females, producing no offspring and gradually reducing the parasite population. Edwin Burgess, a professor at the University of Florida, praised this method as an ‘exceptionally good technology’ that can help solve ‘some kind of large problem.’
The measure is considered more effective and environmentally friendly than traditional pesticide use, which is damaging to both the environment and non-target species. The AP noted that other nations in North America have successfully eradicated the screwworm fly in the past, but it has recently reappeared in southern Mexico. The US plans to launch a new screwworm fly facility in southern Mexico, with a distribution center expected to begin operations by the end of the current year.
The USDA is investing $8.5 million in a facility in Texas and $21 million to convert an existing site in southern Mexico, which is currently used for breeding sterile fruit flies, into a facility for screwworm flies. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to protect agricultural production and prevent the spread of the parasite across the region.
This initiative represents a significant investment in agricultural protection and disease control, highlighting the US government’s commitment to safeguarding livestock and ensuring the sustainability of the agricultural sector in the region.