Dangerous Flesh-Eating Screwworms Found Back In United States

Health officials have confirmed the first human case of the flesh-eating New World Screwworm in the United States.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the case involved an individual who had recently traveled to El Salvador before returning to the U.S.

The infection was verified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in collaboration with the Maryland Health Department.

Authorities clarified that this is a travel-associated case, meaning the parasite was acquired outside the country rather than originating within U.S. borders.

New World screwworm is the larval stage of a parasitic fly that infests living tissue, causing a condition known as myiasis.

Unlike typical maggots that feed on dead tissue, these larvae burrow into healthy flesh, leading to severe tissue damage.

If left untreated, infections can become life-threatening.

Beyond human health risks, the parasite poses a serious threat to livestock, wildlife, and pets.

It has historically caused devastating losses in cattle populations across Central America and Mexico.