The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services confirmed Sunday the nation’s first human case of travel-associated New World screwworm, with the infection detected in Maryland. The patient, who had recently returned from abroad, was confirmed by the CDC on August 4, according to federal officials.
The Maryland Department of Health and CDC investigated the case, which officials said poses very low risk to the public. No animal cases have been reported in the U.S. this year. Screwworms, a flesh-eating parasite, lay eggs in wounds of warm-blooded animals. If untreated, infestations can be fatal, though early treatment is usually effective.
The discovery comes as U.S. cattle producers remain on edge over the pest’s northward spread through Central America and Mexico. The USDA recently announced plans for a sterile fly facility in Texas to combat the threat, estimating a potential outbreak could cost the Texas cattle industry $1.8 billion.
Maryland health officials have implemented prevention measures following the case. The patient was treated, and no further cases have been identified.
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