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8h ago

Mexico, U.S. Fast-Track $51 Million Chiapas Plant to Scale Sterile-Fly Fight on Cattle Screwworm

Officials say boosting output toward 500 million sterile flies a week is critical to drive down wild populations over roughly five years.

gusano barrenador
El gusano barrenador regresó a México después de más de tres décadas, obligando al gobierno a rehabilitar una planta en Chiapas para producir moscas estériles.
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Overview

  • Mexico is conducting weekly aerial releases of about 100 million sterile screwworm flies across Chiapas, the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, Veracruz and Guerrero using supply from Panama.
  • The Metapa plant rehabilitation in Chiapas is 28% complete under a $51 million binational program and is slated to start operating by June 2026, ramping from 30 million to 100 million flies per week.
  • Planned capacity includes roughly 100 million flies weekly from Panama and an expected 300 million from a new facility in Edinburg, Texas, targeting a combined output near 500 million per week.
  • Authorities aim to eradicate the pest in about five years using the sterile insect technique paired with trapping, veterinary care, inspection checkpoints and producer outreach.
  • U.S. restrictions on live cattle imports from Mexico remain in place, blocking about 700,880 head and an estimated $642 million in value, while officials report 698 active cases and more than 3 billion sterile flies released since late 2024.