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, related to a person who had recently traveled to El Salvador , was confirmed to be screwworm by the CDC on Aug. 4, HHS spokesman Andrew G. Nixon confirmed to Reuters, who first reported the story.

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

Reuters reported last week, citing U.S. beef industry sources, that a person in Maryland contracted the parasite after visiting Guatemala — it's unclear whether that report concerns the same case.

NBC News has contacted the DHH and authorit

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