Drones pivot to track flesh-eating screwworms across Texas outbreak
TL;DR Summary
US agencies have repurposed hundreds of DHS drones to surveil wildlife and livestock for New World Screwworms in South Texas and surrounding areas, logging more than 1,000 flights and surveying over 22,000 animals. About 45 domesticated-animal cases have been confirmed, with drones—often infrared-equipped Skydio X10s—used to spot wounds or fever and aid AI-assisted analysis. While drones support broad surveillance, eradication still relies on Sterile Insect Technique, with new sterile-fly facilities planned in Moore Air Base, Texas and Douglas, Arizona, and continued cross-border efforts with Panama and Mexico amid human-case reports in the region.
- US boosts drone surveillance as flesh-eating screwworms spread in Texas Ars Technica
- More cases of parasitic screwworm confirmed. Here’s who is at risk, where it’s spreading The Hill
- Secretary Rollins Visits Moore Air Base To Announce New Memorandum of Understanding Between USDA and DHS USDA (.gov)
- The Flesh-Eating Screwworm’s Comeback Is Now Killing People, Too Gizmodo
- In Fight Against Screwworm, One Positive Update Newser
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