Health officials have confirmed the first human case of the flesh-eating screwworm in the United States.
The patient, a Maryland resident, became sick after returning from El Salvador, where the parasite is spreading. Doctors diagnosed the case earlier this month, making it the first confirmed infection of its kind in the country.
Screwworms are fly larvae that attack living tissue, burrowing into the skin and causing painful, deep wounds. If untreated, the infection can become life-threatening. While extremely rare in humans, the parasite is known to devastate livestock, leading to billions in losses worldwide.
The US Department of Agriculture has launched emergency measures, including building a sterile fly facility in Texas and suspending cattle imports from Mexico to stop the parasite from spreading. Mexico and Panama are also expanding their eradication programs to contain the outbreak moving north through Central America.
So far, no US animals have been infected, but experts stress that even one human case is a serious warning. Travelers returning from affected regions are advised to seek medical attention if they notice unusual skin wounds or persistent irritation, as early treatment is key.