The first human case of the New World Screwworm Parasite proves us

Authorities say the first case of human parasite infestation in the United States has been confirmed in the United States.

The Department of Health and Human Services said Monday that New World Screwworm (NWS) myopathy was found in a patient who returned to the United States from El Salvador. The case was confirmed on August 4.

NWS myopathy is a parasite of fly larvae or magworm caused by parasite flies.

Pests mainly affect livestock, and authorities say the risks to U.S. public health are currently “very low”.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) collaborates with the Maryland health department to investigate the case.

HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon said this is the first case of travel-related NWS myopathy related to the outbreak-affected countries found in the United States.

Devastating pests feed on living tissues and are often found in South America and the Caribbean.

Despite efforts to prevent its spread to the north, every Central American country has confirmed cases now, except for the United States and Mexico.

Humans, especially those with open wounds, are vulnerable to invasion and are at a higher risk if they travel to these areas or near livestock in rural areas where the flies are located, the CDC said.

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency said it worked with other agricultural agencies, the State Department, and the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization to respond to the outbreak.

“When Northwest larvae (magworms) drill into the meat of live animals, they can cause serious, often fatal damage to the animals,” the USDA said. “The NWS can invade livestock, pets, wildlife, occasionally birds, and in rare cases humans.”

The USDA said earlier this month that the screwworm outbreak in livestock could have serious economic impacts, threatening more than $100 billion (£73.9 billion) in economic activity related to the cattle and livestock industry.