First Human Screwworm Case Confirmed in US
A rare and alarming parasite known as the New World screwworm has been confirmed in a U.S. resident for the first time, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. The Maryland patient had recently returned from Central America, specifically El Salvador, and is believed to have contracted the parasite while abroad.
The parasite, a flesh-eating fly larva that infests open wounds, is usually found in animals but can infect humans in rare cases. According to HHS, this is the first human case of travel-associated New World screwworm myiasis detected in the United States.
While the public health risk remains “very low,” officials are monitoring the situation closely. The U.S. had largely eradicated the screwworm decades ago, but recent outbreaks just 700 miles south of Texas have reignited concerns, especially among cattle ranchers.
Screwworm flies lay eggs in wounds of warm-blooded animals. When the larvae hatch, they feed on living tissue and can kill their host if untreated. Although no U.S. animal cases have been reported this year, experts warn an outbreak in Texas could cost the state an estimated $1.8 billion in livestock losses.
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