SHOCKING PARASITE OUTBREAK What Every American Needs to Know First human case of flesh

First human case of flesh-eating screwworm parasite detected in the U.S., HHS confirms

The parasite — the larva of the new world screwworm fly — can devastate cattle herds and is rife in parts of Central America.

The first human case of the flesh-eating parasite "New World screwworm "has been detected in the United States, the Department of Health and Human Services said early Monday.

The case, involving a person who had recently traveled to El Salvador, was confirmed to be screwworm by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Maryland Health Department on Aug. 4.

Larvae of the screwworm fly, collected from infected cows in Panama on June 11.Enea Lebrun / Reuters

"The risk to public health in the United States from this introduction is very low," he said.

The parasite — the larva of the New World screwworm fly — can devastate cattle herds and is rife in parts of Central America and Mexico. It can destroy wildlife and even kill household pets

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