USDA Opens New Facility to Combat New World Screwworm in Mexico

(Washington, D.C., November 13, 2025) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has taken a significant step in the ongoing battle against the New World screwworm (NWS) by announcing the construction of a sterile fly dispersal facility in Tampico, Mexico. This facility will facilitate the aerial dispersal of sterile flies across northeastern Mexico, including Nuevo León.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke L. Rollins, emphasized the importance of this new facility, stating, “The opening of the Tampico sterile fly dispersal facility is another incredibly important tool in our arsenal to stop the spread of screwworm. The facility will ensure flexibility and responsiveness in northern Mexico, giving us a greater ability to drop sterile flies and continue to push the pest south.” She noted that halting the screwworm’s spread is a top priority for the Trump Administration.

Last week, Rollins held a productive meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Secretary Julio Berdegue to discuss a joint response to the screwworm crisis. “We are boosting our efforts and completing a joint review of our screwworm operations in Mexico to ensure our protocols are being followed,” she added. The USDA’s comprehensive five-pronged plan aims to safeguard U.S. livestock and protect the livelihoods of American farmers and ranchers.

Methods of Dispersal

There are two primary methods for dispersing sterile insects: aerial dispersal and ground release chambers. Aerial operations are preferred as they enable a consistent dispersal rate over a large area and can reach locations that are inaccessible by ground. Ground release chambers are utilized for quick deployment when needed outside the facility’s range.

Currently, the USDA is dispersing 100 million sterile flies weekly in Mexico. However, aerial operations were previously confined to southern Mexico, making ground release chambers necessary in northern sections. The mass production and targeted dispersal of sterile flies remain essential in combating this agricultural threat.

Current Situation and Future Plans

While Mexico continues to report new cases of NWS, the majority remain concentrated in the southern parts of the country, with no significant northward movement in recent months. Should the situation change, the new Tampico facility will enable the USDA to respond promptly to any emerging cases in other parts of Mexico.

Two recent detections occurred in Nuevo León—approximately 70 and 170 miles from the U.S. border—on September 20 and October 5, linked to young cattle from Chiapas. Thankfully, neither case is currently active, and no further detections have been reported in traps or animals in Nuevo León. The USDA plans to transition from ground release chambers to aerial dispersal in those areas as well.

Supporting Facilities and Collaborations

USDA produces sterile flies for dispersal at the COPEG facility in Panama. Additionally, USDA is investing $21 million to enhance Mexico’s existing fruit fly facility in Metapa, which will double the NWS production capacity upon completion, anticipated by summer 2026.

In Texas, USDA has begun constructing a sterile fly dispersal facility at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, slated to open in early 2026. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is also fast-tracking the design and construction of a sterile fly production facility in Southern Texas, with a planned maximum output of 300 million sterile flies per week.

The USDA continues to collaborate with Mexico’s agriculture authority, SENASICA, to implement the NWS Action Plan and improve protocols for trapping, surveillance, and movement aimed at stopping the northward spread of NWS.

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