"A patient in Maryland was diagnosed in August with New World screwworm, a parasitic fly, after traveling to El Salvador. Doctors and veterinarians say the case poses very low risks for human health in the US, but it comes after an increase of cases in South and Central America and the Caribbean in recent years."
"For decades, the fight against the screwworm was a success story of scientific innovation and collaboration with other countries. There were devastating outbreaks of the parasite in the US in the first half of the 20th century until an ambitious program pushed it south, all the way to Panama. But now, that progress has been threatened, with resurgences reported almost to the US border."
"The New World screwworm presents a significant potential for a public health emergency that could affect national security, the US Department of Health and Human Services announced on 18 August. The emergency declaration paved the way to see whether existing anti-parasitic medications, like ivermectin, work to control the screwworm among animals. There are no other established ways, like vaccines or medications, to address screwworm infestations, and the HHS announcement does not apply to anti-parasitic medications for people."
A Maryland patient was diagnosed in August with New World screwworm after travel to El Salvador, with clinicians judging US human risk as very low. Cases have increased in South and Central America and the Caribbean in recent years, underscoring the need for international cooperation on research and prevention. Historical eradication efforts moved the parasite south to Panama, but resurgences are now approaching the US border. Budget cuts to research and foreign aid could imperil control efforts. HHS declared potential public health emergency on August 18 to enable testing of existing anti-parasitic drugs for animals, while no vaccines or other established treatments exist for screwworm infestations in animals or people.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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