U.S. Reports Rare Death Linked to Screwworm Parasite
(MENAFN) The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has confirmed the nation's first human infection with the dangerous New World Screwworm (NWS), a parasitic fly known for burrowing into living tissue with razor-sharp mouth hooks, causing devastating and potentially fatal damage.
An HHS spokesperson informed media on Monday that the infected person had recently visited El Salvador. They stressed that the risk to the US population remains very low, despite ongoing livestock outbreaks of the parasite in Central America and Mexico.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that screwworm has not been detected in US animals since it was nearly eliminated decades ago through a strategy of releasing sterilized male flies to collapse populations. However, with the parasite spreading in neighboring countries, the USDA warned, “(NWS) is not only a threat to our ranching community -- but it is a threat to our food supply and our national security.” To counter this threat, the agency is implementing stringent new defenses, including the creation of a sterile fly production facility in Texas, deploying mounted patrols to monitor wildlife crossings, and utilizing detector dogs to screen imports at key ports of entry.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that individuals visiting outbreak zones, interacting with livestock, sleeping outdoors, or with open wounds are at increased risk of infestation by the screwworm parasite.
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