- USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a $25 million commitment to establish a sterile fly dispersal facility in Arizona to strengthen New World screwworm (NWS) control efforts.
- The announcement came during a visit to the Douglas, Arizona, Port of Entry, which is scheduled to reopen to livestock imports on Aug. 24.
- USDA says every imported animal will undergo multiple veterinary inspections under enhanced APHIS biosecurity protocols.
- The Arizona facility will complement sterile fly production and dispersal operations in Texas, Mexico, and Panama.
- USDA says the phased reopening of southern livestock ports remains contingent on Mexico’s continued progress in controlling NWS.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding its long-term strategy to combat New World screwworm (NWS) with a $25 million commitment to build a sterile fly dispersal facility in Arizona while preparing to reopen the Douglas Port of Entry to livestock imports under enhanced biosecurity measures.
During a July 29 visit to the Douglas, Arizona, livestock inspection facilities, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said the investment will strengthen the nation’s ability to suppress and ultimately eliminate the livestock pest from North America.
New facility to strengthen sterile fly program
The proposed Arizona dispersal center will support USDA’s sterile insect technique program, which releases sterile male flies to reduce New World screwworm populations. The facility is intended to improve response times along the Southwest border and complement existing sterile fly operations in Texas, Mexico, and Panama.
USDA will work with the Arizona Department of Agriculture to determine the facility’s final location and operating plan. Depending on the selected site and available infrastructure, construction could be completed within several months.
Douglas Port to reopen under enhanced inspections
The funding announcement comes ahead of USDA’s planned Aug. 24 reopening of the Douglas Port of Entry for livestock trade.
According to USDA, every animal entering through the port will receive multiple veterinary inspections, including examinations conducted by USDA veterinarians before entry into the United States. Animals failing to meet APHIS import requirements will be denied entry, and any detection of New World screwworm would immediately suspend imports through the facility.
USDA selected Douglas as the first southern border port to reopen because Sonora, Mexico, continues to maintain one of the country’s strongest animal health systems and remains the lowest-risk state for NWS.
Part of a broader border protection strategy
The Arizona investment is part of USDA’s broader response to New World screwworm following its phased reopening plan for southern livestock ports announced last week.
The department said reopening additional ports in Santa Teresa and Columbus, New Mexico, will depend on continued progress by Mexico under the Joint Action Plan to combat NWS and ongoing disease risk assessments.
USDA officials noted that surveillance efforts near Douglas have included the collection of nearly 1,000 flies over the past year, with no New World screwworm detections reported. Federal and state agencies have also conducted preparedness exercises, stakeholder outreach, and response training to support rapid action should the pest be detected.
USDA said it will continue monitoring the situation and may pause or modify reopening plans if the risk of New World screwworm changes.
Information sourced from the U.S. Department of Agriculture press release.
