First US human case of flesh-eating New World screwworm identified

The US has confirmed its first human case of a flesh-eating parasite, the New World screwworm, in a Maryland resident who traveled from El Salvador. The parasite, which feeds on live tissue, is spreading in Central America and Mexico, but the risk to the US public remains low. Authorities are taking measures to prevent its entry into the US, including building a sterile fly production facility and monitoring imports.