Construction of a factory for combating parasites begins in Texas

• A factory for combating parasites is being constructed in the USA.
• The new factory in Texas will produce up to 300 million flies per week.
• Border control with Mexico continues to combat parasites.

A large-scale project worth 750 million dollars is starting in the southern Texas, aimed at combating the threat of infected domestic animals. Plans include the construction of a factory that will focus on breeding billions of parasite-free flies.

The Secretary of the US Department of Agriculture, Bruce Rollins, announced that the new factory, located at the Mur aviation base near Edinburg, Texas, is expected to start producing and releasing parasite-free flies within a year. The Department of Agriculture also plans to allocate 100 million dollars for new technologies, such as fly traps, and to enhance border control with "canine inspectors" and specially trained dogs for detecting parasites.

US borders will remain closed for the import of livestock, including cattle and bison from Mexico, until successful measures are taken to return parasites back to the south to Panama. This has occurred through three border closures over the last eight months, the most recent of which happened in July following reports of infections in the vicinity of 370 miles from the Texas border.

American officials are concerned that any infected flies reaching Texas could cause billions in losses and further increase already record prices for beef. The parasite also poses a threat to wildlife, domestic animals, and potentially humans.

Rollins emphasized that "the biosecurity of farmers is a national priority" during a press conference in the Texas Capitol alongside Texas Governor Greg Abbott. He stressed that all Americans must be concerned, but particularly this issue pertains to Texas and neighboring states that face these problems daily.

The fly has been a serious problem for American livestock for decades, as it has not been possible to partially eradicate it in the 1970s through breeding and releasing parasite-free flies. Since then, fly breeding facilities in the USA have been closed.

The Mexican livestock industry has been severely affected by the closure of the US border for imports. The Mexican Department of Agriculture confirmed that a plan has been signed to control the fly, which includes monitoring through the use of traps and limiting the movement of livestock within Mexico only through certified borders.

The new factory in Texas will be the first on US territory in the last decade and represents a significant increase in the investment by the US Department of Agriculture in fly breeding and releasing parasite-free flies. This strategy aims to produce parasite-free flies in such large quantities that wild flies will be forced to mate with them, which leads to the emergence of parasite-free offspring that do not survive. As a result, the population of wild flies decreases, as females mate only once in their lifetime.

In a recent statement, Rollins announced plans to convert an existing factory for breeding fruit flies into a facility for breeding parasite-free flies, as well as plans to build a site for collecting flies imported from Panama for their release from small aircraft. These projects are estimated at 29.5 million dollars.

The factory in Panama can breed up to 117 million flies per week, while the new Mexican factory is expected to produce 100 million per week, thus the new factory in Texas will be able to produce up to 300 million flies weekly. Rollins noted that the administration of President Donald Trump urged to declare a limit on US dependence on the breeding of flies in Mexico and Panama.

This is a tactical step that ensures readiness and prevention, rather than just a reaction to the situation, Rollins stated.

Tags: USA