First Human Case of Flesh-Eating Screwworm Parasite Detected in the U.S., HHS Confirms

Washington, D.C., August 26, 2025 (Headline Journal):
The first human case of the New World screwworm parasite has been confirmed in the United States, according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The infection, caused by the larva of the New World screwworm fly (Cochliomyia hominivorax), was detected in a person who had recently traveled to El Salvador.

Case Details and Public Health Assessment

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Maryland Health Department confirmed the case on August 4. The affected individual has fully recovered. Investigations revealed no transmission to other humans or animals, minimizing the immediate public health risk.

HHS spokesperson Emily G. Hilliard emphasized:
“This is the first human case of travel-associated New World screwworm myiasis identified in the United States. The risk to public health is very low.”

Screwworm Parasite: Threat to Livestock and Wildlife

The screwworm parasite is notorious for devastating cattle herds, wildlife, and even pets. Female flies lay eggs in any warm-blooded host, and the hatching larvae feed on living tissue, earning the name “flesh-eating.” Historical outbreaks in Central America during the 1980s and 1990s were eradicated at significant cost, but the parasite has resurged in recent years.

A 2024 U.S. Agriculture Department report estimates that a major outbreak in Texas could cost $1.8 billion in livestock losses, labor, and medical expenses. The state’s agriculture industry supports 2 million jobs and contributes $867 billion to the economy.

Federal Response: Sterile Fly Release Program

Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins announced a five-part plan to combat screwworm in Texas on August 15, including:

• Breeding billions of sterile male flies.
• Releasing them via aerial drops over southern Texas and northern Mexico.
• Sterile males mating with wild females to prevent egg hatching, gradually reducing populations.

This technique successfully eradicated the screwworm in the 1960s. Officials had initially planned a two-to-three-year rollout, but recent cases may accelerate the timeline.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott stressed the urgency:
“All of this is at risk because of the New World screwworm.”

Regional Spread and Monitoring

The parasite is endemic in Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and parts of South America. In June 2025, Mexico reported a case in Ixhuatlán de Madero, Veracruz, about 370 miles from the Texas border, prompting HHS to suspend cross-border cattle trade temporarily.

Human infections remain rare but can be fatal if untreated. Prompt diagnosis and medical care typically result in full recovery.

Disclaimer:
This article is based on official announcements from HHS, CDC, and the Maryland Health Department, and is published by Headline Journal following responsible journalism standards.