USDA and EPA Advance Genetic Engineering to Combat New World Screwworm Resurgence
The resurgence of the New World screwworm fly in the United States has prompted the USDA and EPA to take action. The screwworm, a parasitic fly whose larvae consume the living flesh of animals and occasionally humans, was eradicated in the U.S. in 1966 but has reappeared, with cases reported in Texas and New Mexico. To address this, the USDA plans to open a new facility in Texas to produce sterile flies, aiming to release 300 million per week by the end of 2028. Additionally, the EPA has granted emergency authorization for NovoFly, a genetically engineered male-only strain of screwworm, developed in collaboration with North Carolina State University. This initiative is part of a broader effort to prevent the screwworm from establishing a permanent presence in the U.S. 
