WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) led a bipartisan letter with 43 of his colleagues, including several U.S. Representatives seated on the House Committee on Agriculture and House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to expand eradication and containment efforts relating to the New World screwworm (NWS). The NWS poses a critical threat to our nation’s livestock, farming, and wildlife industries—without guardrails in place, an outbreak could inflict detrimental economic losses on the national economy.
“In November 2024, we first received reports of NWS detected in the Mexican state of Chiapas—the number of reported cases has surged from five to now at least 33 and has spread to the states of Campeche and Tabasco. This raises a critical question of how many cases are truly out there and whether we have mechanisms in place to ensure the safety of U.S. livestock and wildlife. Left unchecked, an outbreak could cost livestock producers millions of dollars per year and inflict detrimental economic losses on the national economy,” penned Congressman Tony Gonzales. “To address this growing concern across our livestock, farming, and wildlife industries, we urge the USDA to work with state, local, and relevant industry stakeholders to proactively address this emerging threat—including considering the feasibility of establishing a sterile fly production facility in Texas or the Southwest.”
“The New World Screwworm is a devastating pest that would cripple the United States livestock industry, and an infestation would cause significant losses to livestock and wildlife populations,” said Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening. “Therefore, it’s critical to be vigilant and provide resources to swiftly respond. Farmers and ranchers need assurance that needs will be met since this pest has not been on the mainland United States in many decades. We thank Congressman Tony Gonzales for leading a letter to highlight the need to be proactive to safeguard against this risk to animal health.”
“As the threat of the New World screwworm inches closer to our southern border, Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association continues to work with our federal and state governments about possible solutions, with an emphasis on a U.S. sterile fly facility. Congressman Gonzales has been instrumental in raising awareness and garnering support for a proactive approach in Washington, D.C. Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association would like to thank Congressman Gonzales and those who signed on to his letter for keeping this issue in the forefront of discussions in our nation’s capitol. We look forward to continuing our work with federal, state and industry partners to find a viable solution that will protect the cornerstone of U.S. agriculture, American beef,” said Carl Ray Polk Jr., Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association President.
Click here or see below to read the full letter:
Dear Secretary Rollins:
We are writing to bring your immediate attention to the growing risk posed by the New World screwworm (NWS) and the critical need for expanded eradication and containment efforts.
In November 2024, we first received reports of NWS detected in the Mexican state of Chiapas—the number of reported cases has surged from five to now at least 33 and has spread to the states of Campeche and Tabasco. This raises a critical question of how many cases are truly out there and whether we have mechanisms in place to ensure the safety of U.S. livestock and wildlife. Left unchecked, an outbreak could cost livestock producers millions of dollars per year and inflict detrimental economic losses on the national economy.
The life cycle of NWS makes it uniquely destructive to livestock and wildlife as NWS larvae infest living tissue, causing severe wounds that can lead to infection and death. The U.S. successfully eradicated NWS in 1966 using the sterile insect technique (SIT), which required dropping sterilized flies out of airplanes to disrupt the reproductive cycle.
The current and only accessible sterile fly production facility in Panama, which is operated jointly by USDA and the Panamanian Government, is maxed out at producing 100 million sterile flies per week. However, this output is no longer sufficient to maintain an effective barrier against NWS migration. There are currently no sterile fly production facilities in the U.S. or Mexico, and to successfully push the NWS population further back into Central and South America it is estimated an additional 100 million sterile flies per week will be needed.
To address this growing concern across our livestock, farming, and wildlife industries, we urge the USDA to work with state, local, and relevant industry stakeholders to proactively address this emerging threat—including considering the feasibility of establishing a sterile fly production facility in Texas or the Southwest.
We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to working with you to strengthen NWS eradication and containment efforts.
Sincerely,