Millions of flies to rain from US planes? Here's why Washington may make this wild move
New World screwworm fly
, a
flesh-eating parasite
that has moved further north in Mexico than expected.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the parasite poses a serious danger to the country's cattle industry. Female screwworm flies lay eggs in open wounds of warm-blooded animals. Unlike most fly larvae, their maggots feed on live flesh, which can lead to severe injuries or death in livestock.
Why is the US worried?
The USDA fears that if the parasite reaches Texas, it could cause massive economic damage, similar to what happened decades ago. The fly was largely wiped out in the 1970s through a special program where sterile male flies were bred and released. When these sterile flies mated with females, their eggs failed to hatch, reducing the population over time.
The pest had been contained to Panama for years until it was found in southern Mexico late last year. Most recently, a new infestation was found about 370 miles (595 kilometres) from the Texas border, much further north than previously recorded.
What is the US doing about it?
On Wednesday, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the U.S. would again tighten its border to prevent the pest from entering. "Thanks to aggressive monitoring, we have been able to take quick and decisive action to respond to the spread of this deadly pest," Rollins said in a statement.
Live Events
The U.S. is planning to spend nearly $30 million to build new facilities for breeding and releasing sterile flies. The plan includes a new fly factory in southern Mexico, set to open by July 2026, and a holding site in southern Texas to store sterile flies from Panama for rapid deployment if needed.
How is Mexico responding?
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum criticised the border closure, calling it 'totally exaggerated.' She said Mexico is following all the right protocols and is working hard to control the situation.
Mexican authorities said there were 392 infected animals as of this week, a drop of nearly 19% since June 24. They believe the issue is under control.
U.S. lawmakers are also urging quicker action. On Thursday, Reps. Tony Gonzalez of Texas and Kat Cammack of Florida asked the Trump administration to approve existing anti-parasite treatments for livestock, saying current labelling rules are slowing down the response.
If the fly population continues to grow, the U.S. may begin aerially releasing millions of sterile flies along the southern border as part of a long-term plan to stop the parasite in its tracks.
Inputs from agencies
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
What Is the New World Screwworm Fly and why the US has issued a livestock ban at the Mexico border
The United States has taken emergency action to suspend livestock imports from northern Mexico after detecting the alarming spread of the New World Screwworm fly, a parasitic insect that poses a deadly threat to livestock health and the American cattle industry. This insect, which lays eggs in the open wounds of warm-blooded animals, has larvae that consume living flesh, unlike common fly maggots that feed on decaying matter. With a newly detected infestation found just 370 miles from the Texas border, US officials fear a repeat of the devastating outbreaks of the mid-20th century that cost farmers millions in livestock losses. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is responding swiftly with containment strategies, including a revival of the sterile fly release program, new infrastructure, and tighter border controls. What is the New World Screwworm Fly The New World Screwworm is the larval stage of a metallic blue blow fly found in the Western Hemisphere. But unlike other blow flies, whose maggots feed on decaying organic matter, these parasitic maggots feed on living tissue. According to Dr. Phillip Kaufman, entomology professor at Texas A&M University, this distinction makes the New World Screwworm particularly dangerous to livestock health. The larvae aggressively burrow into the open wounds of warm-blooded animals, including cows, horses, wildlife, and occasionally humans. What makes the New World Screwworm Fly so dangerous The New World Screwworm fly (Cochliomyia hominivorax) is not your average parasite. Female flies lay eggs inside wounds of animals such as cattle, deer, and even humans. But unlike typical fly larvae, screwworm maggots feed on living tissue, burrowing deeper into the flesh and causing large, infected wounds. If left untreated, infested animals suffer from pain, severe tissue damage, and potentially death. The parasite spreads quickly and can cause outbreaks among herds, making it particularly dangerous for ranchers and livestock producers. Additionally, wild animals can act as hosts, allowing the parasite to spread undetected. USDA imposes emergency livestock ban to block Screwworm entry To prevent the pest from entering the US, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a temporary halt to livestock imports from northern Mexico, effective immediately. Rollins emphasized that the USDA's early monitoring systems allowed for "quick and decisive action" to be taken. The move aims to create a barrier that halts the parasite's advance into the US, particularly into Texas, a state with a large cattle population. Screwworm spread in the US in 1970s The screwworm was once widespread in the US, causing enormous damage until it was eradicated in the 1970s. The breakthrough came through the sterile insect technique, where millions of lab-bred, sterile male flies were released into the wild. When these males mated with wild females, no offspring were produced, reducing the population over time. This method worked so effectively that the parasite was completely eliminated from the US and pushed back to Panama, where it was contained for decades—until now. How sterile flies might help to stop the Screwworm outbreak The New World screwworm first emerged as a serious threat in the US in 1933, causing devastating losses to cattle producers, particularly in the Southeast, where damages reached between $50 to $100 million by the early 1960s. In response, the US government introduced the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) in the 1950s—a groundbreaking method that involved sterilizing male screwworm flies using radiation. According to USA Today reports, these sterile males were released in large numbers into the wild, where they mated with wild females, resulting in infertile eggs. Since female screwworm flies mate only once, this dramatically reduced the population. The technique was a major success, and by 1966, the screwworm was declared eradicated from the US, at a cost of $32 million—ultimately protecting an $80 billion cattle industry. However, with the parasite's resurgence in Mexico, the USDA has launched a renewed effort. On June 18, it announced an $8.5 million sterile fly dispersal facility in South Texas, set to begin operations by the end of the year. Additionally, the US is investing $21 million to upgrade a production facility in Metapa, Mexico, which will produce up to 100 million sterile flies weekly. The goal is to eventually release 400–500 million flies weekly to reestablish the screwworm barrier at the Panama-Colombia border. USDA's multi-million dollar action plan The US is not taking chances. The USDA announced an expanding containment infrastructure and increasing response capabilities. Key elements of the plan include: A new sterile fly breeding facility (or 'fly factory') to be built in southern Mexico by late 2025 A fly holding center in southern Texas to allow rapid deployment of sterile flies in case of an emergency Aerial release programs targeting outbreak zones using planes to distribute sterile flies across wide areas These measures are modeled on the successful campaigns of the past, and officials are optimistic they can contain the threat—if action is taken quickly enough. What happens if the Screwworm Fly crosses into the US If the parasite does breach the US border, the USDA is prepared to implement an emergency aerial release of millions of sterile flies. These would target potential breeding zones in southern Texas and other high-risk regions. Combined with aggressive surveillance and treatment protocols, this strategy is aimed at eradicating any early outbreaks before they escalate. Failure to act quickly could lead to livestock quarantines, meat shortages, and billions in economic losses making proactive containment the only viable option. New World Screwworm Fly: Related FAQs What is the New World Screwworm Fly? A parasitic insect that lays eggs in wounds; its larvae feed on the living tissue of animals. Why did the US halt livestock imports from northern Mexico? To prevent the screwworm fly from spreading into Texas and other parts of the US How does the sterile insect technique work? Sterile male flies are released to prevent successful reproduction and gradually eliminate the population. Is the infestation under control in Mexico? Mexican officials report a decline in infected animals but the parasite has spread closer to the US border. What is the USDA's long-term plan? It includes border monitoring, new fly production facilities, aerial fly releases, and emergency containment strategies. Also Read | Top 10 richest Indians in the US 2025 including Jay Chaudhry, Vinod Khosla, Sundar Pichai and more
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Fentanyl crisis takes center stage in US-China trade negotiations: Here's why
Trade policy as a weapon against Fentanyl China's response and diplomatic tensions Live Events Fentanyl's role in trade talks The stakes US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reports that seizures of fentanyl at the border have doubled in the past two years, yet the supply remains robust, fueling the urgency behind the US's hardline stance. The ongoing dispute threatens to disrupt global supply chains, with the fentanyl crisis now influencing tariffs on a wide range of goods, from electronics to pharmaceuticals. The August 14 window is critical: if no further agreement is reached, tariffs could snap back to higher levels, with the fentanyl tariff remaining a central point of contention. (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The ongoing US-China trade talks have placed fentanyl—a deadly synthetic opioid—at the heart of economic diplomacy, underscoring how a public health emergency has become a central bargaining chip in global commerce. The Trump administration has repeatedly accused China of enabling the flow of fentanyl and its chemical precursors into the United States, leading to a surge in overdose deaths and prompting unprecedented tariffs that have reshaped the trade is a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Just 2 milligrams—an amount smaller than a few grains of sand—can cause a fatal overdose. The US has faced a relentless wave of fentanyl-related deaths, with tens of thousands of Americans dying annually from overdoses linked to the drug and its analogues. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that synthetic opioids , primarily fentanyl, are responsible for over 70,000 overdose deaths in the US each response to the crisis, President Trump stated an emergency and imposed a 20% "fentanyl tariff" on all Chinese imports, explicitly linking trade penalties to China's alleged failure to stem the flow of fentanyl precursors to Mexican drug cartels , which then traffic the drug into the US. This fentanyl tariff remains in place even as broader tariffs have been temporarily reduced following recent trade negotiations.'The flow of contraband drugs like fentanyl to the United States, through illicit distribution networks, has created a national emergency, including a public health crisis. Chinese officials have failed to take the actions necessary to stem the flow of precursor chemicals to known criminal cartels,' stated the White has pushed back, arguing that the US opioid crisis is rooted in domestic misuse and regulatory failures, not Chinese exports. Still, in a move seen as a gesture of goodwill, China recently tightened controls on two key chemicals used in fentanyl production, adding them to a list of strictly regulated 4-ANPP and NPP are widely recognized as the most immediate precursors used in illicit fentanyl synthesis. Chinese authorities have also added other related substances to their control lists in line with United Nations recommendations, and are working to schedule additional chemicals such as 4-piperidone and officials, however, maintain that the ultimate responsibility lies with the US:'Fentanyl is the U.S.'s problem, not China's. The responsibility to resolve this issue lies with the United States,' said Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for China's Foreign 20% fentanyl tariff is now a sticking point in ongoing negotiations. While both countries have agreed to temporarily lower other tariffs, the fentanyl-related duties remain, reflecting the issue's political and public health gravity. The US insists that further progress on trade depends on China's willingness to clamp down on fentanyl precursors, while China views the tariff as punitive and based on a mischaracterization of the crisis.
News18
3 days ago
- News18
US Plans To Breed Millions Of Flies, Release Them From Planes: Here's Why
Last Updated: The US stopped livestock imports from northern Mexico due to the screwworm fly threat. USDA Secretary Rollins announced border tightening and a $30M sterile fly program. The United States has temporarily halted livestock imports from Mexico's northern states due to the growing threat of the New World screwworm fly, a deadly flesh-eating parasite that has spread further north than anticipated. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said that the parasite poses a danger to the country's cattle industry. Female screwworm flies lay eggs in open wounds of warm-blooded animals. Unlike most fly larvae, their maggots feed on live flesh, which can lead to severe injuries or death in livestock. The USDA is concerned that if the New World screwworm fly reaches Texas, it could inflict significant economic damage, echoing the devastating impact it had decades ago. The fly was largely wiped out in the 1970s through a special program where sterile male flies were bred and released. When these sterile flies mated with females, they prevented their eggs from hatching, ultimately reducing the population, the Economic Times reported. The pest had been contained in Panama for years until it was found in southern Mexico late last year. Most recently, a new infestation was found about 370 miles (595 kilometres) from the Texas border, much further north than previously recorded. What Is The US Doing? USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins on Wednesday announced a border tightening measure to prevent the New World screwworm fly from entering the US. 'Thanks to aggressive monitoring, we have been able to take quick and decisive action to respond to the spread of this deadly pest," Rollins stated, highlighting the proactive approach to containing the pest. The US plans to invest nearly $30 million in building new facilities to breed and release sterile flies. This includes a new 'fly factory" in southern Mexico, expected to launch by July 2026, and a holding site in southern Texas for rapid deployment of sterile flies from Panama if an outbreak occurs. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum criticised the border closure, calling it 'totally exaggerated." She emphasised that Mexico is implementing necessary protocols and working diligently to contain the New World screwworm fly outbreak. Mexican authorities said there were 392 infected animals as of this week, a drop of nearly 19% since June 24. They believe the issue is under control. top videos View All US lawmakers are pushing for faster action. Representatives Tony Gonzalez (Texas) and Kat Cammack (Florida) urged the Trump administration to expedite approval for anti-parasite treatments, citing restrictive labelling rules as a bottleneck in the response to the New World screwworm fly threat. If the New World screwworm fly infestation worsens, the US plans to deploy millions of sterile flies via aerial release along the southern border, aiming to curb the parasite's spread as part of a long-term control strategy. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: July 12, 2025, 22:14 IST News world US Plans To Breed Millions Of Flies, Release Them From Planes: Here's Why Latest News Lufthansa CEO's Wife Rams Woman In Italy While On Vacation World Agency feeds Moscow records hottest 12 July in 122 years Agency feeds India vs England 3rd Test Day 3 Scoreboard Agency feeds India all out for 387, match Englands first-innings total Agency feeds Kejriwal invited to attend event to mark Shaheed Udham Singhs martyrdom day latest news
