Today, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins held a press conference with the media to provide a full update on the New World Screwworm (NWS) situation and clear up some misleading headlines that have been circulating. There was a lot of concern building over an alleged detection of NWS less than a mile from the border, but this was not the case. Rollins said there are new cases that have been reported, but the closest one is still 25 miles away.
This case is too close for comfort, and Rollins said the USDA has ramped up its detection and mitigation efforts, which is largely centered around a sterile fly production facility that is being built in Texas.
Rollins said the latest efforts include government preparedness exercises and sterile fly dispersal.
As previously mentioned, Mexico reported up to 8 new detections of NWS. While the cases keep getting closer, Rollins said this is not catching the USDA off guard.
More information on the status of NWS can be found at aphis.usda.gov.
