The primary human case of a flesh-eating parasite infestation has been confirmed within the US, authorities say.
New World screwworm (NWS) myiasis was present in a affected person who returned to the US from El Salvador, the Division of Well being and Human Companies mentioned on Monday. The case was confirmed on 4 August.
NWS myiasis is a parasitic infestation of fly larvae, or maggots, attributable to parasitic flies.
The pest primarily impacts livestock, and authorities have mentioned the chance to US public well being was at the moment “very low”.
The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) labored with Maryland’s well being division to research the case.
HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon mentioned it’s the first human case of travel-associated NWS myiasis from an outbreak-affected nation recognized within the US.
The devastating pest, which feeds on reside tissue, is often present in South America and the Caribbean.
Regardless of efforts to halt its unfold north, instances have now been confirmed in each Central American nation, together with Mexico.
People, notably these with an open wound, are inclined to infestation and are at greater threat in the event that they journey to these areas or if they’re round livestock in rural areas the place the flies are, the CDC says.
The USDA’s Animal and Plant Well being Inspection Service says it has partnered with different agriculture companies, the state division and the Meals and Agriculture Group of the United Nations to reply to the outbreak.
“When NWS fly larvae (maggots) burrow into the flesh of a dwelling animal, they trigger critical, usually lethal injury to the animal,” based on the USDA. “NWS can infest livestock, pets, wildlife, sometimes birds, and in uncommon instances, folks.”
A screwworm outbreak in livestock might be have extreme financial impacts, threatening greater than $100bn (£73.9bn) in financial exercise tied to the cattle and livestock business, the USDA mentioned earlier this month.
