A New Plan to Stop Screwworms

A new 50 million‑dollar facility in southern Chiapas, near Guatemala, will produce up to 100 million sterile flies each week. These non‑reproductive insects are released into the wild to mate with screwworms, reducing viable egg production and curbing the pest’s spread to cattle and other warm‑blooded animals.

Key Highlights

• Inauguration attended by
• Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum

• U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins

• Strategic Impact
• The plant doubles the sterile fly output compared to Panama’s existing facility.
• Releases are already underway along the U.S.–Mexico border near Texas.

• Current Threat Landscape
• Screwworm first appeared in Mexico last November, has moved northward.

• Texas reported its inaugural cases in early June; the bug can burrow into animal flesh, causing fatal infections if untreated.

• Future Plans
• The U.S. is building a Texas plant that will begin production later this year.

Economic and Trade Consequences

• Mexico restricted live cattle exports to the U.S. in May, impacting Texas feedlots.
• Consequently, more Mexican beef is now being shipped to the U.S. in 2026.

A Call for Cross‑Border Cooperation

Both leaders emphasized that animal health issues transcend borders, urging shared experiences and joint solutions to eliminate the screwworm.