The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has confirmed its first human case of travel-associated New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite from an outbreak-affected country in Central America.
A Maryland department of health investigation, led by the CDC, identified a patient who returned from El Salvador with the condition. The patient’s identity and travel details are not disclosed due to patient privacy laws.
HHS spokesperson Andrew G Nixon described the risk to public health as “very low.” Meanwhile, cattle ranchers, beef producers, and livestock traders in Texas, which is experiencing increased screwworm activity, remain on high alert for potential US infestations.
The CDC has estimated that an outbreak could cost the economy up to $1.8 billion due to livestock deaths, labor costs, and medication expenses. To combat the pest, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins recently announced plans to build a sterile fly facility in Texas.
State veterinarians have reported conflicting information about the human case, with some learning about it through calls with the CDC while others were not informed by the agency.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/25/new-world-screwworm-flesh-eating-parasite-case-us