Latest news with #STOPScrewwormsAct
The Hill
15 hours ago
- Health
- The Hill
Lawmakers, USDA seek to combat New World screwworm along the southern border
Just a few hundred miles from our southern border, a flesh-eating parasite has been detected in Mexico, putting America's farmers and ranchers on watch. The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly that lays its eggs in the open wounds of livestock, primarily cattle and sheep, deer and other wildlife, and on rare occasions, humans and pets. Once hatched, the fly's larvae feed on tissue, leading to severe infection and often death. If this parasite were ever to reach the United States, our agricultural economy and supply chain would be in serious trouble. That is not a hypothetical scenario. Flare-ups have occurred within our borders in the past, costing American producers hundreds of millions of dollars. Mrs. D., a Central Texas rancher, remembers all too well the devastation of the last major screwworm outbreak in the United States that took place during the 1960s. 'Every day from dawn to dusk, my husband would ride horseback to find animals affected by the screwworm. We worked tirelessly to ensure our livestock survived. We had to make sure our calves were born in the winter to stand a chance against the fly that caused the screwworm because the flies are not as prevalent in the cold weather.' Although screwworms were eradicated from the U.S. in the 1960s using a sterilized fly technique, all the signs are there for a repeat scenario. As of March of this year, 369 confirmed cases had been reported in Mexico, creeping north from its confinement zone in Central America and towards the United States. As the representative of the largest congressional district in Texas, I have heard repeatedly from my constituents that a reemergence of New World screwworm is their biggest concern. Texas tops the charts for beef production in the nation, and some of my district's counties have more sheep and goats than live human beings. There is no doubt that a screwworm outbreak would be absolutely devastating to communities like mine. I am not alone in these concerns. In March, 43 of my colleagues joined me in bipartisan outreach to the Agriculture Department to offer congressional support on screwworm eradication efforts. I also introduced the STOP Screwworms Act along with 31 of my House colleagues and Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M). This important legislation would establish a sterile fly production facility in the U.S. — a critical step in our fight to shore up our domestic infrastructure against this deadly parasite. Fortunately, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has been incredibly proactive on this issue. This week, I joined Rollins to announce the launch of an $8.5 million sterile New World screwworm fly dispersal facility in South Texas and a five-pronged plan to enhance the Agriculture Department's ability to detect, control and eliminate this pest. Per the Agriculture Department, the facility in South Texas is expected to be ready within six months. President Trump and Rollins have made protecting America's agriculture industry a priority. Together, we will fight to codify executive branch wins into long-term legislative solutions. Tony Gonzales represents Texas's 23rd District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves as the chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Conference and represents the largest congressional district in Texas, spanning over 800 miles of the southern border.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas ranchers brace for possible screwworm threat
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — On ranches in South Texas, the mood is tense as word is reaching ranchers about the spreading of New World Screwworms. These are flesh-eating parasites that target warm-blooded animals. While there are no reports of screwworms having crossed the border into Texas, many are recalling a procedure of using sterile male screwworm flies that eradicated this problem in the U.S. several decades ago. 'Screwworms have been in the United States before, back in the 50s, 60s and 70s. We controlled those outbreaks at those times with sterile male screwworm flies,' Charlie Christenson at Producers Livestock Auction said. Christenson said the way to get ahead of these screwworms spreading into Texas is by having the means to produce these sterile flies. He says the effects of screwworm infestations on animals can be dire. 'They leave larvae on an open wound on an animal, and that larvae turns into a screwworm that basically feeds on living flesh, which is the difference between it and a maggot,' Christenson said. Knowing that screwworms could cross from Mexico into Texas, Texas Representative Tony Gonzales in Washington, D.C. created legislation called the 'STOP Screwworms Act' to allocate funding to create the exact facility needed to produce sterile flies. 'It's very much focused on creating a facility that will sterilize these flies to stop the spreading of screwworms…we have to stop relying on foreign countries to do our work and to me it makes a whole lot of sense if this facility is right here in Texas…right here in the United States.' Christenson said he is hopeful for this new legislation because those with cattle are not the only ones who can be impacted by screwworms. 'It makes cattleman and sheep people…everybody that has wildlife…the deer people are nervous about it because of the open wound,' Christenson said. USDA officials are monitoring the border as we await action from this new piece of legislation. For now, these ranchers say they'll stay alert and hope this sterile fly facility comes before the screwworms do. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New World Screwworm Threatens Texas Agriculture
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is calling for quick intervention to fight the growing threat of the New World screwworm. This flesh-eating bug has cattle ranchers and agricultural leaders across the state on edge. In a statement published last week, Miller celebrated the Department of Agriculture's recent $21 million investment to expand sterile fly production in Metapa, Mexico—a big step in the fight against the screwworm flies that devastated livestock throughout the country in the 1960s. 'The New World Screwworm cannot be eliminated with half-hearted efforts,' Miller said. 'Actual eradication requires the strategic release of millions of sterile flies. I was skeptical of the Biden Administration's approach, but this collaborative effort led by Secretary Brooke Rollins at the United States Department of Agriculture, coupled with strong leadership from Texas Congressional members, will expand North American sterile fly production, marking a crucial step forward.' Miller's support follows recent reports from southern Mexico that screwworm infestations are creeping north, raising alarms for ranchers in the Lone Star State. According to a study by the World Organization for Animal Health, the parasite's larvae are known to burrow into the wounds of living mammals, including livestock, pets, and even humans, causing extensive tissue damage and potentially death. Miller said the USDA's new investment showcases international cooperation in the battle against the pest. 'This reinforces our defenses and strengthens our international partnership. Secretary Rollins recognizes the seriousness of this threat and is utilizing appropriate tools with necessary urgency to protect American agriculture,' Miller added. Miller also endorsed the STOP Screwworms Act, which was recently introduced by Rep. Tony Gonzales and Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz. The legislation would create a domestic 'sterile fly production facility' in Texas to boost the USDA's efforts and secure a steady supply of sterile flies for quick 'deployment' across the state. Apparently, as experts previously noted, sterile flies are one of the best solutions to fight the northern migration of the New World screwworm. Meanwhile, Texas A&M University is ramping up its own efforts to protect the cattle industry from the looming screwworm threat. Last week, the university announced a $5 million donation from the Rosenthal family to support a new Meat Science and Technology Center at its campus in Bryan, Texas. State officials, outside of Miller's efforts, continue to urge ranchers to remain vigilant for signs of the parasite and to report any cases immediately to the Texas Animal Health Commission or the USDA. Experts warn that the 'reintroduction 'of the New World screwworm could have devastating economic impacts in certain areas, not just for ranchers but also for consumers already facing high beef and overall grocery prices. As The Dallas Express previously reported, Americans are still reeling from the pressures of skyrocketing grocery prices, which the Biden Administration unleashed before he left office.
