The U.S. Department of Agriculture will invest $25 million in Arizona to help combat New World screwworm (NWS), Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced during a visit to the state. Rollins said the funding will support opening a new sterile fly dispersal facility in Arizona, intended to reduce outbreaks of the parasite-linked pest by releasing sterile flies as part of the screwworm control program.
Reporting describes Rollins joining Arizona Republican members of Congress, including Reps. Andy Biggs, Juan Ciscomani and Eli Crane, to discuss the investment. The announcement frames the facility as a targeted effort to fight NWS and protect livestock and animal health. While details beyond the planned facility and amount of funding are limited in the provided excerpts, all accounts describe the same core elements: USDA funding at $25 million, a new Arizona sterile fly dispersal site, and the goal of combating New World screwworm using the sterile fly approach.
