Texas authorities have initiated a large-scale effort to combat the flesh-eating New World screwworm, releasing 700 million sterile flies. These specially bred insects are designed to glow under ultraviolet light and are part of a strategy to disrupt the screwworm's reproductive cycle.
This release is a component of a broader federal response to the screwworm threat, which has seen government agencies like the USDA and CBP involved. The overall effort has included the release of billions of sterile flies in affected areas. Reports indicate that two New World screwworm quarantine zones in Texas have recently been lifted.
The coordinated federal and state actions aim to contain and eliminate the parasitic threat. This is a developing story and will be updated as details emerge.
