Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins have announced plans to combat the New World screwworm, which has disrupted the livestock and cattle industries. New World screwworms are an invasive species that burrow fly larvae into fresh wounds of living animals, causing deadly damage. Texas Gov. Abbott said that screwworms could result in billions of losses each year, and the food supply is at risk.
During a press conference, Rollins announced a new sterile fly production facility in Edinburg, Texas, which will breed three hundred million flies a week. The Trump administration will invest in technology development and work closer with Mexico to track the screwworm population.
A screwworm outbreak could cost Texas around $1.8 billion in damages to livestock annually. The state’s hunting industry could also face issues, as 80% of Texas’s white tailed deer died due to screwworms during the 1960s outbreak.
The Texas A&M Agrilife Extension office states that the population is controlled through the release of sterile males into the population. If an infestation is suspected, Texas A&M Agrilife recommends contacting authorities, noting the veterinarian, and inspecting the animal for signs of infestation. There are several treatment options, including topical treatments.
