On June 11, 2026, nearly two dozen Democratic senators urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enhance its response to the New World screwworm outbreak, which has recently crossed the U.S. border. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Ben Ray Lujan, Elissa Slotkin, and Martin Heinrich led the request, emphasizing the need for new strategies as the pest threatens the livestock industry. Currently, there are seven confirmed cases in the U.S., primarily in Texas and one in New Mexico.
The senators acknowledged the USDA's preliminary containment efforts, including enhanced surveillance and sterile fly releases, but stated that these measures must be expanded to address the evolving threat. They requested increased production of sterile flies, investments in research for screwworm eradication, and an emergency meeting of relevant officials to coordinate efforts.
The sterile fly technique, which involves releasing sterile males to prevent reproduction, has been effective in past outbreaks. However, the U.S. relies on a single production facility in Panama, producing 100 million flies weekly, which is insufficient compared to the 500 million needed. The USDA plans to establish a domestic facility at Moore Air Base in South Texas, expected to be operational by May 2027. Additionally, a facility in Metapa, Mexico, is anticipated to produce 100 million flies weekly by the end of the year.