Experts warn of screwworm risk as parasite spreads northward

SHREVEPORT, La. -- A Maryland man who recently traveled to Central America has been diagnosed with a rare flesh-eating parasite, raising fresh concerns among veterinarians and agriculture officials in the United States.

The infection, caused by New World screwworm maggots burrowing into human tissue, is not currently a problem in Louisiana or Texas. But experts warn the parasite’s steady northward migration through Mexico poses a growing threat.

Dr. Christine Navarre, a veterinarian with LSU, explained that screwworm flies are attracted to open wounds, where they lay eggs that hatch into hundreds of maggots. “It attacks cattle, it can attack wildlife, it can attack birds, pets, people,” Navarre said. “But wildlife and livestock are going to be probably the main target.” Within days, anim