USDA’s Rollins, Texas governor announce plan to combat invasive screwworms that threaten cattle

The Trump administration is partnering with Texas to rapidly build defenses against an invasive pest known as the New World screwworms that threatens livestock and even humans.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Friday the government will fund a large breeding center for sterile flies, which effectively combats the screwworms, in hopes of stopping the invasive pest's spread northward from Mexico.

“We have assessed the information on the ground in Mexico and have determined we must construct an additional sterile fly production facility in the United States to stop the northward advancement of this terrible pest that is threatening American cattle production," Rollins said.

"President Trump has made it clear that we must take all necessary steps to protect our country from foreign pests and diseases that threaten our economy and way of life," she added.

New World screwworms burrow fly larvae into fresh wounds of living animals like livestock, pets and occasionally people and  animals cause lethal infections.

The pest was eradicated from the U.S. in the 1960s but has resurfaced in Mexico recently.

Gov. Greg Abbott and Rollins said the new sterile fly production facility in Edinburg, Texas will breed 300 million flies a week.

"We have a lot of data to collect. We have a lot of work to do. But we have to protect our beef and cattle industry in this country," Rollins said.