Overview
- Federal data shows 42 confirmed U.S. screwworm infections since June 3, with nine cases currently active and most detections in Texas and New Mexico.
- On July 29 the USDA announced $25 million for a sterile‑fly dispersal facility in Douglas, Arizona, and set an August 24 pilot reopening of the Douglas port for Mexican cattle under tight inspection.
- The agency says the sterile insect technique—releasing mass‑produced sterile male flies to prevent reproduction—is the only proven way to eradicate screwworm and is expanding release capacity.
- USDA is also building a much larger sterile‑fly production plant in Texas and says it has increased investment and output, but current weekly supply still falls short of modeling needs to fully contain the outbreak.
- States are using quarantines and checkpoints to limit animal movement, consumers face higher beef costs from the prolonged import ban, and public‑health and wildlife monitoring gaps could undercount spread.