U.S. Steps Up Screwworm Fight

Federal officials rolled out a couple of big steps in the fight against New World screwworm. FDA on Tuesday issued an Emergency Use Authorization for a product called F10 Antiseptic Wound Spray with Insecticide, which

can help prevent and treat screwworm infestations in cattle and other animals. It’s the first FDA-approved treatment that can be used on lactating dairy cattle. However, the milk from treated cows can’t be used for human consumption for 10 days, nor can treated cattle be slaughtered for 30 days. While the risk of an outbreak remains low for most U.S. dairy cattle, livestock located closer to the U.S.-Mexico border face greater risk.

Over at USDA, plans are moving ahead to build a new sterile fly production facility at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas. Once it’s up and running, scientists will raise screwworm flies in a secure facility and sterilize the males with radiation before releasing them. Since female screwworm flies only mate once in their lifetime, mating with a sterile male means the eggs won’t hatch. Over time, this will help bring the population down.

Right now, about 100 million sterile flies are produced each week at a facility in Panama and released in and around affected areas of Mexico. USDA is also investing $21 million to help Mexico double its production by this summer. Construction on the Texas site is expected to start later this spring.