USDA Releases New World Screwworm Response Playbook Amid Government Shutdown
Despite the ongoing government shutdown, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a major development over the weekend via X (formerly Twitter), unveiling the USDA’s New World Screwworm Response Playbook.
The playbook was shared last week with over 200 stakeholders and key partners during a call outlining the department’s strategy if a positive screwworm detection is confirmed within the U.S. This proactive approach demonstrates the administration’s ongoing vigilance against a serious agricultural threat.
Secretary Rollins’ post stated, “First and most important – no new cases have been detected in the last 7 days in Mexican states bordering the United States. USDA and our partners continue to lead an aggressive response to New World Screwworm. This is a national security threat and has the full attention to the Trump Administration.”
Rollins detailed ongoing surveillance efforts on both sides of the border: “Right now, USDA employees are on the ground in Mexico monitoring 350 collection sites at New World Screwworm affected areas. In the US, we are monitoring 113 New world screwworm specific fly traps in 10 counties in 3 states with 7,300 additional fruit fly traps. To date, 22,210 specimens have been tested, resulting in zero detections in the US.”
The USDA’s eradication strategy includes an aggressive sterile insect technique. “Dispersing 100 million sterile flies per week in Mexico, inspecting wild or feral animals for New World Screwworm infestation in Texas, and working with Mexico on trapping and surveillance,” are among the active steps underway. Rollins noted, “no detections in border states in Mexico since October 5th.”
Looking ahead, infrastructure investments are being made to scale up eradication efforts. “The New World Screwworm Sterile Fly Dispersal Facility at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas will be opening in early 2026. This facility will allow the United States to disperse 300 Million sterile flies weekly at the US Southern Border and into Northern Mexico.”
As the USDA continues its aggressive response to the New World Screwworm threat, stakeholders are reassured by the lack of new detections and the administration’s readiness to act swiftly to protect U.S. agriculture and livestock.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.