Wasp & Worm Threat Prompts USDA to Spend $213.3 Million

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Responding to the escalating outbreaks of exotic fruit flies and New World screwworm, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is deploying emergency funding. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack greenlit the transfer of $213.3 million from the Commodity Credit Corporation to bolster APHIS' efforts. This injection of funds aims to directly fortify emergency response initiatives, both domestically and internationally, safeguarding the fruit, vegetable, and livestock industries and their producers.

"Increasing our efforts to curb the spread of exotic fruit fly and New World screwworm outbreaks is paramount in safeguarding our nation's agriculture and trade," emphasized USDA's Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Jenny Lester Moffitt. "This funding infusion enables us to swiftly contain these populations, preventing their further spread before establishing and becoming harder to eradicate."

Authorized to draw funding from the Commodity Credit Corporation in addressing emergency outbreaks of animal and plant pests and diseases, APHIS is presently tackling a surge in fruit fly outbreaks in the United States and Mexico, along with New World screwworm cases in Central America.

Exotic fruit flies rank among the most destructive pests to fruits and vegetables globally. Of the allocated funds, $103.5 million will target known fruit fly outbreaks in California, bolstering preventive measures in other vulnerable U.S. regions. Additionally, these funds will aid in managing the rising incursions of fruit flies in Guatemala and Mexico, where APHIS and partners maintain a protective buffer against the northward spread of the Mediterranean fruit fly.

A sum of $109.8 million from the emergency funds is earmarked for combating New World screwworm detections in crucial areas such as Panama. This allocation is pivotal in preventing the pest's resurgence into North America. Notably, the most recent screwworm outbreak in the United States occurred among wild deer in the Florida Keys in 2016, necessitating over 5 months to eradicate. New World screwworm poses a significant threat to livestock, capable of impacting any warm-blooded animal, including humans. The extensive and costly multi-decade eradication effort led by USDA and partners successfully eliminated screwworm from the United States, Mexico, and Central America, creating a protective barrier in Panama.

Despite the vital response efforts by APHIS, the public's participation is crucial in protecting crops and livestock from invasive pests. For more information on invasive insects or plant diseases, visit HungryPests.com. Residents can also report invasive plant pests or diseases in their areas by selecting their state under the "Find or Report Pests by State" dropdown tab on HungryPests.com.