Texas governor looks to accelerate construction of new NWS sterile fly facility

The original operational capability for the facility in Edinburg, Texas, was originally targeted for November 2027, but Gov. Greg Abbott said he would like to see the facility operational by May 2027.

June 5, 2026

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Courtesy USDA

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he is offering incentives and resources to complete the construction of a new sterile fly facility in the state to combat New World screwworm (NWS).

The first case of NWS in the U.S. in more than 60 years was confirmed in Texas on June 3. One of the primary ways to stop the spread of the flies, whose larvae feed on the tissue of warm-blooded animals, is to stop the reproductive cycle by releasing sterile male flies. Female NWS flies only mate once in their lives, so if they mate with a sterile male, they lay unfertilized eggs that don’t hatch. Releasing sterile flies just outside of affected areas helps ensure flies traveling to new areas will only encounter sterile mates and will not be able to reproduce.

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