Fact Check: U.S. to build $8.5 million fly factory to combat 'man-eater' screwworms
What We Know
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced plans to construct a sterile New World screwworm (NWS) fly dispersal facility in South Texas, with an investment of $8.5 million. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to combat the resurgence of NWS, a pest known for infesting livestock and causing severe damage, including potential threats to human health in rare cases (USDA). The facility is expected to be operational by the end of 2025 and will produce sterile male flies that will be released into the wild to mate with females, thereby preventing the reproduction of the pest (AP News).
The USDA's announcement follows recent detections of NWS in Mexico, prompting immediate actions to safeguard U.S. livestock and agriculture. The facility will be located at Moore Air Base, about 20 miles from the Mexican border, and is part of a five-pronged plan to enhance pest control measures (CBS News).
Analysis
The claim regarding the construction of an $8.5 million fly factory is substantiated by multiple credible sources, including official announcements from the USDA and reputable news outlets. The USDA's press release outlines the urgency of the situation, stating that NWS has been detected as close as 700 miles from the U.S. border, necessitating proactive measures to prevent its spread (USDA).
The facility at Moore Air Base will be only the second of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, which underscores the significance of this initiative in the context of agricultural biosecurity (AP News). The USDA's commitment to using sterile insect technology has a historical precedent, as similar methods were successfully employed in the past to eradicate NWS from the U.S. in the 1960s (Economic Times).
The sources cited are reliable, with the USDA being the authoritative body on agricultural matters in the U.S. Additionally, news outlets like AP and CBS are known for their journalistic integrity and fact-checking standards.
Conclusion
The claim that the U.S. is building an $8.5 million fly factory to combat 'man-eater' screwworms is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources confirms that the USDA is indeed investing in a facility aimed at producing sterile flies to mitigate the threat posed by this pest to livestock and potentially human health.
Sources
- Secretary Rollins Announces Bold Plan to Combat New World ... - USDA Link
- The US plans to open a fly factory in Texas as part of its fight ... Link
- U.S. plans to combat spread of "man-eater" screwworms with $8.5M ... Link
- US government to build $8.5M fly breeding factory to mass produce ... Link
- The US is spending $8.5 mn to breed flies in Texas near ... Link
