Entomologists at the USDA confirmed a diagnosis of screwworm myiasis in a Key deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium) from Big Pine Key, Florida and identified New World Screwworm was the causative agent.Odocoileus virginianus clavium) de Big Pine Key, Florida e identificaron al gusano barrenador del ganado como el agente causante.

• Response to the outbreak was addressed by USDA-APHIS- Veterinary Services (APHIS-VS, https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/program-overview ), Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS, https://www.fdacs.gov/ ), USDA-APHIS-International Services (APHIS-IS, https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/internationalservices ), COPEG, USDA-ARS ( https://www.ars.usda.gov/ ) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS, https://www.fws.gov/ ), and Monroe County.
• The sterile insect technique (SIT), the approach used to tackle this outbreak, relied on the following activities to ensure efficient and long-term success: animal and fly surveillance, animal quarantine, production of sterile flies, quality control, and dispersal of sterile flies in the infested area.

A mandatory, 24/7 inspection station was established to inspect all animals leaving the keys. While the Key deer were the primary host, several pets were also infested (dogs, cats, and pet pigs).

• Infested, barrier, and surveillance zones were set up to ensure wide distribution of the sterile pupae through ground release chambers (GRC).

Sterile pupae, flown from the COPEG facility in Pacora, Panama, were first released throughout the infected Florida area using GRC.

• GRC were recharged twice a week, resulting in over 2.6 million sterile flies released weekly at the center of the outbreak.