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AUSTIN, TEXAS – February 11, 2026 – Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins joined Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Monday to inaugurate a pivotal new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) facility in Texas, designed to bolster the nation’s defenses against the potential invasion of the New World screwworm (NWS). This cutting-edge facility, equipped for the large-scale dispersal of sterile screwworm flies, represents a critical escalation in the comprehensive strategy to protect American livestock and public health from a pest capable of devastating cattle populations and, in rare instances, infecting humans.
The opening of the Texas facility is a cornerstone of a broader, multi-pronged containment strategy unveiled by Secretary Rollins in June 2025. This proactive approach underscores the federal government’s commitment to eradicating the screwworm threat before it can establish a foothold within the United States, drawing on decades of successful application of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT).
The Sterile Insect Technique: A Proven Defense
The New World screwworm ( Cochliomyia hominivorax ) is a parasitic insect notorious for its larvae, which burrow into the flesh of warm-blooded animals, including livestock and wildlife, to feed. These infestations, known as myiasis, can cause severe tissue damage, secondary infections, and, if left untreated, can be fatal within seven to ten days, particularly for young or vulnerable animals. The economic impact on the livestock industry, especially cattle, can be catastrophic.
The primary method of control and eradication for the New World screwworm is the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT). This environmentally friendly pest management approach involves mass-rearing screwworm flies, sterilizing them using low-dose radiation, and then releasing vast numbers of these sterile males into infested areas. Since female screwworm flies typically mate only once in their lifetime, when they mate with a sterile male, the eggs laid are infertile, and no offspring are produced. This disrupts the reproductive cycle of the wild population, leading to a rapid decline and eventual eradication.
The SIT has a distinguished history of success. The United States, in a landmark achievement, eradicated the New World screwworm from its territory in 1966 after a multi-decade campaign that began in the 1950s. This monumental effort, which cost hundreds of millions of dollars but saved billions in potential livestock losses, established a permanent sterile fly barrier zone in Panama, preventing reintroduction from endemic areas in South America. The USDA has since maintained a production facility in Panama, continuously releasing sterile flies to safeguard the North American continent. The success of SIT has made it a model for pest eradication worldwide.
A Spreading Threat: The New World Screwworm’s Resurgence
Despite its eradication from North America decades ago, the New World screwworm remains endemic in many Caribbean and South American countries. The current alarm was triggered by a significant outbreak in Central America in 2023, which saw the pest spread northwards. Reports indicate detections in southern Mexico, signaling a concerning progression towards the U.S. border and prompting fears of its potential re-entry into American agricultural systems.
The potential economic ramifications of a screwworm re-infestation in the U.S. are staggering. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has highlighted that an outbreak could lead to billions of dollars in losses annually due to animal deaths, reduced productivity, veterinary treatment costs, and trade restrictions. Beyond economic damage, an unchecked spread would pose a significant threat to wildlife populations, including deer, bighorn sheep, and other vulnerable species.
While no cases originating within the U.S. have been detected, vigilance remains paramount. At the end of January, a routine USDA inspection identified a screwworm infection in a horse that had recently arrived from Argentina. While this isolated incident was contained and did not represent an established U.S. population, it served as a stark reminder of the constant threat of transboundary disease introduction and the necessity of robust biosecurity measures.
USDA’s Multi-pronged Defensive Strategy
Secretary Rollins’ comprehensive strategy to combat the New World screwworm is built upon several critical pillars:
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Initial Response and Border Security: Recognizing the escalating threat, the USDA took decisive action in July 2025 by shutting down the U.S.-Mexico border to cattle imports. This measure aimed to create a physical barrier to potential screwworm entry via live animals, a crucial step given the pest’s ability to hitchhike on infected livestock. Simultaneously, the USDA has intensified its collaborative efforts with Mexican authorities, providing technical assistance and resources for surveillance, detection, and control measures south of the border. This international cooperation is vital, as effective containment requires a regional approach.
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Shifting the Front Line: In late January 2026, the USDA announced a strategic shift in its sterile fly dispersal efforts. Moving beyond the long-standing barrier zone in Panama, the agency committed to releasing a greater concentration of sterile flies further north, specifically along the U.S.-Mexico border within Texas. This proactive move aims to create a protective buffer zone, flooding potential entry points with sterile flies to prevent wild populations from establishing themselves even if individual infected animals or flies manage to cross the border.
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The Texas Facility: A Strategic Hub: The newly opened facility in Texas is the lynchpin of this northward shift. Located strategically to maximize dispersal efficacy along the border, the facility boasts an impressive capacity to release up to 100 million sterile flies per week. This immense volume is crucial for overwhelming any nascent wild screwworm populations. Beyond immediate dispersal, the USDA also plans to construct a dedicated production facility at the same Texas location. This future capability will allow for the domestic breeding and sterilization of screwworm flies, significantly enhancing the agency’s self-sufficiency and rapid response capacity, reducing reliance on the Panama facility for U.S. border defense. Governor Abbott emphasized the critical role Texas plays as a frontline state in agricultural biosecurity, stating, "Texas is proud to host this vital facility, a testament to our commitment to protecting our ranchers, our economy, and our food supply from this serious threat."
Economic and Agricultural Implications
The threat of the New World screwworm is not merely an ecological concern; it carries profound economic implications for the U.S. agricultural sector. The U.S. beef industry alone contributes hundreds of billions of dollars to the national economy and supports millions of jobs. An established screwworm population would necessitate widespread quarantines, extensive animal treatment programs, and potentially mass culling of infected herds to prevent further spread.
Beyond direct losses, a re-infestation could trigger significant trade disruptions. International markets often impose strict sanitary and phytosanitary requirements, and an outbreak of NWS could lead to immediate bans on U.S. livestock and meat exports, severely impacting American producers’ access to lucrative global markets. The cost of maintaining a continuous eradication program, as was necessary for decades prior to the Panama barrier, would also be substantial, diverting resources from other critical agricultural initiatives. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association commended the USDA’s aggressive strategy, highlighting that "proactive measures like this new facility are essential to safeguarding the future viability of American ranching."
Public Health Considerations
While the primary concern surrounding the New World screwworm revolves around its impact on livestock, it is important to note that the larvae can also infect humans, causing a condition known as human myiasis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms that screwworm infections in humans, though rare in the U.S. due to the pest’s eradication, can occur, typically when larvae infest open wounds or mucous membranes. Symptoms can range from itching and pain to more severe tissue damage.
However, the CDC currently states that the New World screwworm does not pose a public health threat in the U.S. This assessment is contingent on the continued success of eradication and prevention efforts. Should the screwworm become endemic in the U.S. again, the risk to human health, while still relatively low compared to livestock impact, would increase, necessitating public awareness campaigns and medical preparedness. The USDA’s strategy, by preventing the establishment of screwworm populations, indirectly serves as a public health safeguard.
Broader Challenges: The Rising Tide of Animal Diseases
The robust response to the New World screwworm threat is emblematic of a larger, ongoing struggle faced by U.S. agriculture: the increasing prevalence and impact of transboundary animal diseases (TADs) and zoonotic threats. The past few years have seen an alarming rise in outbreaks that challenge food security, animal welfare, and economic stability.
For instance, the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, has ravaged poultry flocks across the nation. Since the onset of the outbreak in 2022, more than 190 million chickens and turkeys have been culled, leading to significant economic losses for producers and impacting egg and poultry prices. Cases surged dramatically in the fall of 2025 and again at the start of 2026, underscoring the persistent and evolving nature of these threats. Other diseases, such as African Swine Fever, while not yet established in the U.S., remain a constant concern, requiring extensive surveillance and preparedness.
These outbreaks highlight the interconnectedness of global agricultural systems, climate change, and pathogen evolution. Increased global trade, habitat disruption, and changing migration patterns can facilitate the rapid spread of diseases, making proactive biosecurity and rapid response capabilities, such as those demonstrated with the screwworm facility, more critical than ever. The USDA’s investments in infrastructure and scientific methods for disease control reflect a necessary adaptation to these evolving challenges.
Interagency Cooperation and Future Outlook
The success of the New World screwworm prevention program relies heavily on sustained cooperation across multiple levels of government and international borders. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) plays a central role in surveillance, diagnostics, and operational execution of the SIT. State agricultural agencies, particularly in Texas and other border states, are crucial partners in local monitoring and response. International collaboration with Mexico and Panama remains foundational to maintaining the integrity of the broader North American barrier zone.
Looking ahead, the Texas facility is not just a reactive measure but a strategic investment in the long-term biosecurity of U.S. agriculture. By establishing domestic production capabilities, the USDA aims to enhance its agility and resilience against future threats. The commitment to maintaining a sterile fly barrier, whether in Panama or along the U.S.-Mexico border, reflects a recognition that continuous vigilance and scientific innovation are essential to protecting the nation’s livestock, wildlife, and agricultural economy from invasive pests. The inauguration of this facility marks a significant milestone in this ongoing effort, signaling a resolute stance against one of agriculture’s most insidious threats.
