Latest news with #NewWorldScrewwormFly
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
What Is the New World Screwworm Fly and why the US has issued a livestock ban at the Mexico border
The United States has taken emergency action to suspend livestock imports from northern Mexico after detecting the alarming spread of the New World Screwworm fly, a parasitic insect that poses a deadly threat to livestock health and the American cattle industry. This insect, which lays eggs in the open wounds of warm-blooded animals, has larvae that consume living flesh, unlike common fly maggots that feed on decaying matter. With a newly detected infestation found just 370 miles from the Texas border, US officials fear a repeat of the devastating outbreaks of the mid-20th century that cost farmers millions in livestock losses. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is responding swiftly with containment strategies, including a revival of the sterile fly release program, new infrastructure, and tighter border controls. What is the New World Screwworm Fly The New World Screwworm is the larval stage of a metallic blue blow fly found in the Western Hemisphere. But unlike other blow flies, whose maggots feed on decaying organic matter, these parasitic maggots feed on living tissue. According to Dr. Phillip Kaufman, entomology professor at Texas A&M University, this distinction makes the New World Screwworm particularly dangerous to livestock health. The larvae aggressively burrow into the open wounds of warm-blooded animals, including cows, horses, wildlife, and occasionally humans. What makes the New World Screwworm Fly so dangerous The New World Screwworm fly (Cochliomyia hominivorax) is not your average parasite. Female flies lay eggs inside wounds of animals such as cattle, deer, and even humans. But unlike typical fly larvae, screwworm maggots feed on living tissue, burrowing deeper into the flesh and causing large, infected wounds. If left untreated, infested animals suffer from pain, severe tissue damage, and potentially death. The parasite spreads quickly and can cause outbreaks among herds, making it particularly dangerous for ranchers and livestock producers. Additionally, wild animals can act as hosts, allowing the parasite to spread undetected. USDA imposes emergency livestock ban to block Screwworm entry To prevent the pest from entering the US, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a temporary halt to livestock imports from northern Mexico, effective immediately. Rollins emphasized that the USDA's early monitoring systems allowed for "quick and decisive action" to be taken. The move aims to create a barrier that halts the parasite's advance into the US, particularly into Texas, a state with a large cattle population. Screwworm spread in the US in 1970s The screwworm was once widespread in the US, causing enormous damage until it was eradicated in the 1970s. The breakthrough came through the sterile insect technique, where millions of lab-bred, sterile male flies were released into the wild. When these males mated with wild females, no offspring were produced, reducing the population over time. This method worked so effectively that the parasite was completely eliminated from the US and pushed back to Panama, where it was contained for decades—until now. How sterile flies might help to stop the Screwworm outbreak The New World screwworm first emerged as a serious threat in the US in 1933, causing devastating losses to cattle producers, particularly in the Southeast, where damages reached between $50 to $100 million by the early 1960s. In response, the US government introduced the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) in the 1950s—a groundbreaking method that involved sterilizing male screwworm flies using radiation. According to USA Today reports, these sterile males were released in large numbers into the wild, where they mated with wild females, resulting in infertile eggs. Since female screwworm flies mate only once, this dramatically reduced the population. The technique was a major success, and by 1966, the screwworm was declared eradicated from the US, at a cost of $32 million—ultimately protecting an $80 billion cattle industry. However, with the parasite's resurgence in Mexico, the USDA has launched a renewed effort. On June 18, it announced an $8.5 million sterile fly dispersal facility in South Texas, set to begin operations by the end of the year. Additionally, the US is investing $21 million to upgrade a production facility in Metapa, Mexico, which will produce up to 100 million sterile flies weekly. The goal is to eventually release 400–500 million flies weekly to reestablish the screwworm barrier at the Panama-Colombia border. USDA's multi-million dollar action plan The US is not taking chances. The USDA announced an expanding containment infrastructure and increasing response capabilities. Key elements of the plan include: A new sterile fly breeding facility (or 'fly factory') to be built in southern Mexico by late 2025 A fly holding center in southern Texas to allow rapid deployment of sterile flies in case of an emergency Aerial release programs targeting outbreak zones using planes to distribute sterile flies across wide areas These measures are modeled on the successful campaigns of the past, and officials are optimistic they can contain the threat—if action is taken quickly enough. What happens if the Screwworm Fly crosses into the US If the parasite does breach the US border, the USDA is prepared to implement an emergency aerial release of millions of sterile flies. These would target potential breeding zones in southern Texas and other high-risk regions. Combined with aggressive surveillance and treatment protocols, this strategy is aimed at eradicating any early outbreaks before they escalate. Failure to act quickly could lead to livestock quarantines, meat shortages, and billions in economic losses making proactive containment the only viable option. New World Screwworm Fly: Related FAQs What is the New World Screwworm Fly? A parasitic insect that lays eggs in wounds; its larvae feed on the living tissue of animals. Why did the US halt livestock imports from northern Mexico? To prevent the screwworm fly from spreading into Texas and other parts of the US How does the sterile insect technique work? Sterile male flies are released to prevent successful reproduction and gradually eliminate the population. Is the infestation under control in Mexico? Mexican officials report a decline in infected animals but the parasite has spread closer to the US border. What is the USDA's long-term plan? It includes border monitoring, new fly production facilities, aerial fly releases, and emergency containment strategies. 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Irish Independent
05-07-2025
- Science
- Irish Independent
US to dump millions of sterile flies on Texas in bid to eliminate flesh-eating maggots
©UK Independent The federal government is going to take millions of sterile flies and dump them on Texas in the hopes that they'll kill off a species of insect known for laying its flesh-eating larvae in the wounds of warm-blooded animals. The US Department of Agriculture announced an upcoming project where it will reportedly breed millions of flies, blast them with radiation to make them sterile and unleash them on Texas and Mexico, in an attempt to reduce the population of the New World Screwworm Fly and its flesh-eating maggot larvae.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Impact Fusion's Scientific Team Proposes Solution to the New World Screwworm Fly Impending Crisis
Napoleonville, Louisiana--(Newsfile Corp. - May 19, 2025) - Impact Fusion (OTC Pink: IFUS) As widely reported in the media and noted by concerned lawmakers, the USA is facing a serious infestation of the New World Screwworm Fly. This infestation could wreak havoc on the American beef cattle and dairy industries, as well as impact other mammals. To that end, Agriculture Secretary Betty Rollins has declared an emergency. She has closed the border to beef exports from Mexico. Six of the nation's lawmakers, including Senators Lujan (D-NM), Cronyn (R-TX), Heinrich (D-NM), Cruz (R-TX), Hyde-Smith (R-MS), and Gonzales (R-TX) have joined together in a bi-partisan effort to address this problem. The company is reaching out to each of the lawmakers sponsoring this legislation in an attempt to alert them to an all-natural product that is environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and produced IN AMERICA. It is contacting them by email and phone. As previously reported, the Schmidt's of Deer Run Ranch in Jefferson, TX (one of IFUS's rancher-owned test ranches) met with Senator Cruz last month to discuss the Farm Bill. Robert Schmidt was quoted by a member of the U.S. Congress after stating, "No cattle. No food." Impact Fusion is endeavoring to inform the lawmakers at the highest level that the solution is already in hand, invented and produced in the USA and ready to be delivered. "I recently watched two very topical videos produced by Rebecca and Josh Tickell entitled 'Common Ground and Kiss the Ground'," said Marc Walther CEO. "These videos can be found on Amazon Prime Video. What I learned was that with Global Climate Change, an ever-present condition, temperature extremes are demonstrating an annual average rise in temperature. Furthermore, wind and ocean currents are shifting in a manner that indicates the problem is not going to go away any time soon, nor will it be solved by conventional techniques." Our IFUS Scientific team is reaching out to the worldwide scientific community comprised of scientists in various fields of expertise. These efforts have uncovered substantial evidence that the ingredients from which SGP+™ is formulated can have a dramatic effect on preventing the screwworm fly from (1) being attracted to beef and dairy cattle, (2) wanting to bite the cow, (3) discouraging the fly to lay her eggs into the cow, and (4) preventing the larvae from becoming a mature fly. This information is being shared with ScrewWorm Fly researchers at Texas A&M by the company's ranchers at Deer Run Ranch. The Schmidts' have been participating in a Manure Study sponsored by the U.S.D.A. The results of analyzing and evaluating manure pats from the Deer Run Ranch herd has led to broader and greater curiosity by the Texas A&M Team who are exploring the positive impact of SGP+™ on the New World ScrewWorm Fly crisis. "Backed by ever-emerging and substantive scientific evidence, it is my considered opinion, that IFUS is in the right place at the right time and that we are able to meet this challenge head on," stated Marc Walther. "Furthermore, we are providing integrated and multi-faceted solutions to the beef and dairy industries that have a direct impact on overall Herd Performance in an environmentally-friendly manner through a game-changing cost-effective solution." The company will continue to update its shareholders as appropriate. Back to Work! For our customers of both Intact Digest and Intact Endurance, you may now send your testimonials to: mwalther@ We can also be reached at 1-800-775-4130 seven days a week. About Impact Fusion International Fusion International, Inc. is in the business of marketing products in the "Health and Wellness" sector of all international markets. It is the company's mission to invent, develop and market these proprietary products worldwide for the health and well-being of humans and animals. The information contained in this release includes some statement that are not purely historical and that are "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our and their management's expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including our financial condition, results of operations. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words "anticipates," "believes," "continue," "could," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "may," "might," "plans," "possible," "potential," "predicts," "projects," "seeks," "should," "would" and similar expressions, or the negatives of such terms, may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are based on current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and the potential effects on the parties and the corporate and administrative transactions. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and represent our management's beliefs and assumptions only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. Contact:Impact Fusion International Inc.204 Highway 1011Napoleonville LA 703901-800-775-4130Email: mwalther@ Updates can be found at the official Impact Fusion Twitter account @impactfusionI #Screwworm Fly #India #Sumul #Intact Digest #Intact Endurance #Germany #legislation #bagasse #drought #Holy Grail #SUAREC #Louisiana #green house gases #methane gas #cattle #dairy #floods #wildfires #scientific studies #American Sugar League #AgriGlow Biotech #Waygu Beef #hay replacement #Sumul,India trials #Black Farmers National Association #Supreme AG™ #SGP+™ #Oklahoma #test ranch #testimonials To view the source version of this press release, please visit Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
