Flesh-Eating Parasite Threatens U.S. Beef Supply Chain, Texas Takes Action
Summary
The United States has opened a sterile-fly facility in Edinburg, Texas, to stop the New World screwworm from re-establishing itself in U.S. herds. Officials will release millions of sterile male screwworm flies that mate with wild females but produce no viable eggs, a tactic that helped eradicate the pest in the 1960s.
The facility will distribute sterile flies across the region immediately, and a much larger breeding production site is slated to begin construction in spring 2026, with completion expected around 2027. Meanwhile, the USDA has suspended imports of live cattle, bison and horses from Mexico and Texas has issued a disaster declaration. Ranchers, feedlots and processors are on alert because screwworm larvae burrow into wounds and consume living tissue, posing animal welfare risks and potential disruptions across the beef supply chain.
Key Points
- New sterile-fly facility opened near Edinburg, Texas to combat the New World screwworm.
- Millions of sterile male screwworms will be released to mate with wild females and prevent reproduction.
- USDA suspended imports of live cattle, bison and horses from Mexico to reduce introduction risk.
- A larger breeding and production facility is planned at the same site; construction starts spring 2026 and finishes around 2027.
- Texas issued a disaster declaration; ranchers and supply-chain actors (feedlots, processors, cross-border trade) are on heightened alert.
- Historical context: the sterile-fly approach successfully eradicated the pest in the U.S. in the 1960s, and authorities are using the same method to prevent reintroduction.
Why should I read this
Because if you work with cattle, meat processing, grocery sourcing or cross-border trade, this could mess with supply and movement — fast. Texas has kicked into emergency mode and the USDA has already stopped some imports. It’s the kind of story where a tiny insect can ripple through logistics and costs, so it’s worth a quick read to know what might change next.