The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding efforts with Mexico to combat the spread of New World Screwworm (NWS), a parasitic fly that poses serious risks to livestock. In a recent call with Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture, U.S. Secretary Brooke L. Rollins confirmed ongoing collaboration and announced a $21 million investment to upgrade a sterile insect production facility in Metapa, Mexico.
The upgraded facility will produce an additional 60 to 100 million sterile NWS flies weekly, enhancing the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) program used to reduce fly populations. This will complement existing operations in Panama, where USDA currently produces and disperses 100 million sterile flies each week via up to 44 flights.
The USDA and Mexico continue to coordinate on surveillance, animal movement controls, and regulatory alignment to contain the pest south of the U.S. border. Restrictions on live animal imports from Mexico remain in place and are reviewed monthly.
APHIS officials and Mexican counterparts are holding regular technical meetings, with a U.S. team scheduled to visit Mexico soon to assess progress and support eradication efforts. This joint initiative aims to protect livestock, the agricultural economy, and food security in the region.
