Summary
A person in Maryland was found with a flesh-eating parasite called the New World screwworm after traveling back from El Salvador. This is the first reported human case of this parasite related to travel in the U.S., but health officials say there is a very low risk to public health.
Key Facts
- A case of New World screwworm was detected in a person who traveled from El Salvador to Maryland.
- The New World screwworm is a type of parasitic fly that infests living tissue.
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported this as the first travel-associated human case in the U.S.
- Health officials say the risk to the general public is very low.
- New World screwworm is typically found in South America and the Caribbean.
- Efforts have been made to prevent the parasite from entering the U.S., including breeding sterile flies.
- A past method used to control the parasite in the U.S. included releasing sterilized insects to eradicate fly populations.
