The United States has confirmed its first human case of a flesh-eating parasite , known as the New World screwworm, in a patient who recently traveled from El Salvador. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the case on Monday (August 25). The patient is currently in Maryland, and health officials are investigating the situation.

The New World screwworm, a parasitic fly species, poses a significant threat as it feeds on the live tissue of warm-blooded animals. The parasite has been spreading across Central America since early 2023 , with cases reported in countries like Belize, Costa Rica, and Panama. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the parasite has not yet been detected in animals within the U.S., but its spread in neighboring countri

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