Washington: The US Health and Human Services Department (HHS) has confirmed the first human case of a flesh-eating parasite in the country. The New World Screwworm (NWS), a parasitic fly species, is known for burrowing into the tissue of living hosts, causing severe damage that can be fatal.

According to Anadolu Agency, an HHS spokesperson informed ABC News that the patient had recently traveled to El Salvador. The spokesperson emphasized that the risk to the US public remains very low, though Central America and Mexico continue to experience livestock outbreaks of the parasite.

The United States Department of Agriculture stated that screwworms have not been detected in US animals, noting that the species was largely eradicated in the country decades ago through the release of sterilized male flies to reduce the population. However, with the parasite's spread in nearby countries, the department warned that the New World Screwworm poses a threat not only to the ranching community but also to the national food supply and security. The agency detailed new measures to prevent its entry, including setting up a sterile fly production center in Texas, deploying mounted patrol units to monitor wildlife crossings, and using detector dogs to screen imports at ports of entry.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, individuals who travel to regions experiencing outbreaks, come into contact with livestock, sleep outdoors, and have open wounds are at a higher risk of screwworm infestation.