Similar to Driving a Screw into Wood, Hence the Name "Screwworm"
Can Be Fatal Without Timely Treatment
Maryland Resident Infected with NWS After Visiting Guatemala
The first human case of infection with the so-called "flesh-eating maggot," known as the New World Screwworm, has been confirmed in the United States. On August 25, Yonhap News, citing Reuters, reported that a resident of Maryland who recently returned from a trip to Guatemala was diagnosed with NWS infection and is receiving treatment in Maryland.
The scientific name of NWS is Cochliomyia hominivorax, and it is the larva of an insect belonging to the order Diptera (flies). When the adult fly lays eggs on the skin of warm-blooded animals such as livestock, wild animals, or humans, hundreds of maggots hatch and burrow into the flesh. Unlike ordinary flies, which usually feed on food, excrement, or carcasses, this parasitic fly is attracted to the scent of wounds on living animals.
The female lays eggs on the animal's wound, and the larvae aggressively consume living tissue, causing severe pain to the host. If not treated in time, this parasite can be fatal, potentially leading to the host's death. The maggots use their sharp mouths to bore into the host’s skin, a process similar to driving a screw into wood, which is why it is called the "screwworm."
Outbreak Began in Central America in 2023 and Is Moving North ... North and Central American Livestock Industry on High Alert
NWS infection began to spread in Central America from 2023 and gradually moved northward, with cases reported in Mexico by the end of last year. Reuters, citing Beth Thompson, Executive Director of the South Dakota Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and Secretary of the State Animal Industry Board, as well as an email sent by the beef industry group "Beef Alliance" to about 20 livestock industry stakeholders on the 20th of this month, reported that this case has also been reported to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
NWS infection began to spread in Central America from 2023 and gradually moved northward, with cases reported in Mexico by the end of last year. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News
The Beef Alliance's email stated that the first human case of NWS infection in the United States was confirmed on August 20, the day the email was sent. In a follow-up email, the organization explained that due to patient privacy protection laws, no further details could be provided. However, neither the CDC nor the Maryland Department of Health responded immediately to Reuters' requests for confirmation or comment.
Thompson told Reuters, "After learning about this infection case through other channels, I had to go to the CDC and ask them to inform us about the situation," adding, "(The CDC) was not willing to share any information and told us to check with the state of Maryland about what happened and what was discovered in this traveler." Meanwhile, Texas, which has the largest cattle population in the United States, is now fearful that this type of screwworm could spread for the first time in decades. Previously, the United States eradicated the screwworm in the 20th century by releasing large numbers of sterile adult flies.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
