In a decisive move to counter the advancing threat of the New World Screwworm (NWS), the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched a new US$ 8.5 million sterile fly dispersal facility at Moore Air Base in South Texas. The inauguration of this facility is accompanied by the rollout of a broad five pronged federal strategy designed to detect, contr8ol and eliminate the parasitic pest, which poses a renewed threat to livestock, wildlife, pets, and, in rare instances, humans.
Although NWS was eradicated from the United States decades ago, recent detections in the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Veracruz, approximately 700 miles south of the US border, have escalated concerns about a northward spread. In response to this growing risk, the US suspended imports of live cattle, horses and bison through all ports of entry along the southern border.
The USDA has described this emerging situation as a critical juncture requiring immediate action and resource mobilization. The dispersal facility at Moore Air Base is designed to release sterile NWS flies across strategic areas in Northern Mexico. This method, known as the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), has been central to past eradication campaigns and remains one of the most effective available tools for disrupting NWS reproduction cycles.
Facility as Strategic Infrastructure
Moore Air Base was previously part of the US’s NWS eradication efforts in the 1960s. Now, it returns to the center of containment efforts, with plans to not only disperse sterile flies but potentially serve as a domestic production hub. The USDA is exploring the addition of a production facility at the same site, which could increase weekly output by up to 300 million sterile flies. This would complement current production centers in Panama and a recently renovated facility in Metapa, Mexico.
The Metapa facility, supported by a US$ 21 million USDA investment, is expected to generate an additional 60 to 100 million sterile flies weekly. Combined with Panama’s existing output, total global production is projected to reach at least 160 million sterile flies per week. These flies are used to reduce NWS populations through controlled releases that overwhelm native populations, preventing reproduction.
“The United States has defeated NWS before and we will do it again. We do not take lightly the threat NWS poses to our livestock industry, our economy and our food supply chain. The United States government will use all resources at its disposal to push back NWS and today’s announcement of a domestic strategy to bolster our border defenses is just the beginning. We have the proven tools, strong domestic and international partnerships and the grit needed to win this battle.”
The USDA’s approach is anchored in a detailed five part framework to address the threat of NWS through international cooperation, border security, emergency readiness, operational capacity and research innovation.
International Coordination with Mexico
The USDA is closely working with Mexican counterparts to stem the pest’s spread within their territory. Recent efforts include a two week onsite audit of Mexico’s animal health control systems, continued provision of technical support, and the distribution of traps and lures to enhance local surveillance capabilities. The US will maintain a permanent presence in the region to monitor the effectiveness of these measures.
Strengthening Border Defenses
The USDA aims to create a “barrier zone of vigilance” along the US-Mexico border through increased public outreach and strategic communication. This will be supported by surveillance teams such as APHIS cattle fever tick riders who operate in coordination with US Customs and Border Protection and state officials. These teams are responsible for intercepting stray or illegally introduced livestock that may carry the pest. Additionally, the USDA will support Mexican authorities in establishing a network of traps along the shared border and will ensure regular and detailed reporting of findings.
Domestic Preparedness and Emergency Readiness
To prepare for the possible infiltration of NWS into US territory, USDA will collaborate with state animal health officials to update and finalize emergency response plans. This includes training exercises with federal, state, and local responders. The department will also ensure that adequate supplies of NWS treatments are stockpiled and that no federal regulatory barriers impede their deployment during a crisis.
Enhancing Operational Capability
The Moore Air Base facility marks a renewed commitment to proactive domestic intervention. Beyond dispersal capabilities, the USDA is considering the development of a full scale production facility onsite. This potential facility would allow the US to meet its own sterile fly requirements, increasing independence from foreign production sources and expanding response capacity. Additional resources are being allocated to test and deploy new science and technologies for pest control, including novel sterile insect strains and treatment protocols.
Research, Innovation and Stakeholder Engagement
Research efforts will focus on improving the effectiveness of the SIT method, as well as exploring advanced technologies such as genetically modified fly strains, next generation traps and lures, and radiation techniques like e-beam for insect sterilization. Partnerships with land grant universities in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona will support training programs, surveillance validation and local stakeholder engagement.
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To gather input on future strategies and technologies, USDA will hold four public listening sessions. These forums will address technical aspects of sterile fly production, evaluate alternatives to current methods, and assess the feasibility and cost implications of domestic versus international production facilities.
State and Industry Support Reinforces Federal Strategy
As the NWS threat approaches the US border, state authorities and agricultural stakeholders have reinforced the need for immediate and sustained intervention. Texas is viewed as the frontline of this emerging risk, with state officials emphasizing that proactive infrastructure investments, such as the new dispersal facility, are essential to preserving the region’s agricultural economy.
The new facility in Hidalgo County was established following state level advocacy, with local officials highlighting the need to prioritize livestock and agricultural producers through early federal action. Several elected representatives have supported the effort through legislative proposals and federal appropriations, including initiatives such as the STOP Screwworms Act.
Agricultural associations and industry groups have echoed the urgency of creating a domestic fly production system. Organizations such as the Texas Farm Bureau, Texas Cattle Feeders Association, Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association have identified Moore Air Base as a strategic site for deployment, citing its past role in screwworm control efforts and its logistical proximity to the current threat.
These groups have consistently emphasized that sterile fly release remains the only proven method for controlling NWS populations. Their advocacy has focused on ensuring sufficient fly production volumes and on integrating surveillance, reporting, and treatment protocols into a unified national response.
Stakeholders across the region have acknowledged that the reemergence of NWS poses a complex challenge to livestock, wildlife and trade. The new facility, supported by a detailed eradication strategy and collaborative partnerships, is viewed as a crucial measure in safeguarding the agriculture sector, maintaining supply chain stability and protecting the economic foundation of rural communities.
The USDA’s deployment of this facility, coupled with continued coordination across state, federal and international lines, is expected to form the core of a long term response framework aimed at permanently preventing the reestablishment of NWS in the United States.