A case of New World screwworm was confirmed in a Maryland resident who had traveled from Guatemala and received treatment. New World screwworms (Cochliomyia hominivorax) are parasitic flies that lay eggs in wounds of warm-blooded animals; larvae burrow into living tissue causing severe damage and possibly death if untreated. Most infestations affect cattle, wildlife and pets, though humans can be infected occasionally. Treatment requires removing larvae and disinfecting wounds and is usually successful if caught early. The United States eradicated major outbreaks in the 1960s with a sterile fly program. Increasing detections in Central America and Mexico raise concerns about re-establishment and major economic losses for the cattle industry.
New World screwworms (Cochliomyia hominivorax) are parasitic flies that lay eggs in the wounds of warm-blooded animals. The larvae burrow into living tissue like a screw twisting into wood causing severe damage and, if untreated, death. Most infestations strike cattle, wildlife and pets, but humans can occasionally be affected. Treatment involves removing the larvae and disinfecting the wound. Caught early, it's usually successful, though extracting hundreds of maggots can be arduous.
Few details are known about the person beyond their travel history, but it's appearance shows how easily the parasite can spread and re-establish itself in the US. The last major outbreak was eradicated in the 1960s through an aggressive sterile fly program. For the cattle industry, the stakes are high: a major outbreak in Texas alone could cost as much as $1.8 billion in livestock deaths, labor and medication, according to USDA estimates.
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