A human case of flesh-eating screwworm was detected in the U.S. related to the the latest outbreak of the parasite in Central America, according to officials.

The patient had recently returned to Maryland after traveling to El Salvador, Andrew G. Nixon, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, told Reuters in an email.

On Aug. 4, the Maryland Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the parasite as a New World screwworm, but said it is travel-related.

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

While the chance of people contracting the parasite in the U.S. is low, here's what to know about the New World Screwworm .

Dangerous waters: What to know about the f

See Full Page