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Texas agency and federal partners step up planning as New World screwworm spreads in Mexico
Summary
The Texas Animal Health Commission and federal partners described escalating detections of New World screwworm in Mexico, training and logistical efforts to respond, and limits to current U.S.-Mexico operational cooperation that could affect timing of a U.S. response.
The Texas Animal Health Commission reported that detections of New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) in southern Mexico and Central America have continued to rise and that preparations in Texas and nationally are increasing.
Commission staff said Mexico has expanded checkpoints and surveillance but that operational restrictions in Mexico have limited full deployment of the sterile insect technique. Agency staff described weekly increases in case counts, and said federal partners expect it may take months to verify the effects of buffer-zone sterile-release efforts.
Why it matters: New World screwworm infests living animal tissue and can kill livestock and wildlife; eradication campaigns rely on release of sterile flies produced at specialized facilities. If the pest moves north, Texas livestock and wildlife could be exposed and response will require rapid coordination of surveillance, treatment and sterile‑fly production and distribution.
In the commission report, staff said that Mexican authorities initially limited Dynamic Aviation’s access to airspace and airports and had imposed import duties on equipment and sterile flies, slowing a coordinated sterile-insect campaign. Staff said U.S. funding had covered materials and operations so far, and that USDA had pressed Mexico to lift operational restrictions. The agency reported that, in late April, Mexico committed to remove several restrictions and waive duties, temporarily keeping ports open to livestock imports.
Agency staff described exercises and training already under way: USDA formed two 20‑member strike teams (Southwest and Southeast) trained in surveillance and sterile‑fly release, and the commission sent staff to a week‑long training on surveillance and sterile fly releases. The commission said Texas staff have trained to inspect, collect diagnostic samples and treat animals in the event of detections.
Commission and federal presenters said production capacity is a major constraint. Staff described estimates that halting a northward advance could require production on the order of hundreds of millions of sterile flies per week. They said a U.S. production facility or a retrofitted hangar at a U.S. air base could be used to house pupae and facilitate distribution, but that building or refitting production capacity could take 12–24 months. Commercial and federal participants are exploring interim options to bring pupae and sterile adults from Panama and other production sites.
During discussion, commissioners asked whether the pest’s northward spread was a question of "if" or "when." A commission presenter replied that, given the observed weekly increases in case counts (staff described 25–27% growth in several reports), the agency had to assume northward spread was likely without stronger barriers.
Agency next steps include continued training, increased surveillance and outreach to industry and the public, and coordination with USDA on procurement and logistics for sterile insect operations. Staff emphasized that planning is evolving and that the situation may change rapidly.
Ending: The commission framed the situation as fluid: staff said they will keep updating commissioners and industry partners as surveillance, cross‑border cooperation and production capacity information changes.
