USDA Unveils Sterile Fly Production Facility in Tampico to Strengthen New World Screwworm Response
With the recent detections of New World Screwworm in Mexico, U.S. and Mexican agricultural authorities are intensifying efforts to prevent the pest from advancing northward. The USDA, in partnership with Mexico’s agriculture agency, has announced the development of a new sterile fly production facility in Tampico, Mexico—an important advancement in rapid-response capabilities.
To understand how this new facility will enhance preparedness, we spoke with Dudley Hoskins, USDA’s Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs. Hoskins noted that previous detections required extensive on-the-ground mobilization. “Similar to the two detections in September in Nuevo Leon, this, where we had to send ground teams in and work with our counterparts in SENASICA to get ground dispersal equipment on the ground, that took a little bit more time and effort and just logistical challenges.”
The new Tampico facility is designed specifically to eliminate those delays. By producing sterile flies locally, response teams can act faster and more efficiently during an outbreak. As Hoskins explains, “This facility will allow us to get aircraft operational and in the air in real time and deploy up to about 24 million sterile flies per week. So it’ll give us a faster reaction time and a more significant knockdown once we get those sterile pupae on the plane, loaded and dispersed in the area.”
The sterile insect technique (SIT) has long been a cornerstone of New World Screwworm control. By releasing sterile males into affected regions, the population can be quickly suppressed, reducing the threat to livestock and wildlife. Faster deployment means more effective containment and less risk of spread.
This new facility also strengthens cross-border cooperation between the USDA and Mexico’s SENASICA, reinforcing a shared commitment to protecting animal health throughout the region. Improved logistics and rapid air dispersal ensure both countries can respond to detections with greater precision and reduced time constraints.
As detection rates fluctuate across northern Mexico, enhanced resources like the Tampico sterile fly production center will play a critical role in safeguarding North American agriculture. By boosting response speed and increasing sterile fly output, USDA and Mexican authorities are significantly improving the frontline defense against New World Screwworm.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.