Maryland resident is diagnosed with New World screwworm

A rare case of travel-related New World screwworm was identified in Maryland in a patient who traveled from El Salvador, a spokesperson from the US Department of Health and Human Services said. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Maryland Department of Health are investigating the case of the flesh-eating parasite, which was confirmed on August 4, HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said. Nixon says this is the first human case of travel-associated New World screwworm. Currently, the risk to public health in the United States from this introduction is very low. A spokesperson for the Maryland Department of Health said in a statement that the Maryland resident has recovered from the infection and that “there is no indication of transmission to any other individuals or animals.”