A case of the flesh-eating screwworm parasite has been identified in a person in Maryland who had traveled to the United States from Guatemala, according to four sources familiar with the situation.

The person, who received treatment in Maryland, is the first confirmed case in the U.S. of New World screwworm, a parasite that eats cattle and other warm-blooded animals alive, since an outbreak began to escalate and move northward from Central America and southern Mexico late last year.

Beth Thompson, South Dakota's state veterinarian, told Reuters on Sunday that she was notified of the case within the last week by a person with direct knowledge of the Maryland case.

A second source, who asked not to be identified, said they had seen emails sent by an executive of the industry group Beef A

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