MARYLAND - New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite, has been detected in the United States for the first time.

What we know:

A case of travel-associated New World screwworm reported in Maryland was confirmed by the Center for Disease and Prevention on August 4.

Health officials say the patient was diagnosed after returning from travel to El Salvador, declaring it the first human case of New World screwworm in the United States.

The risk to public health in the U.S. remains very low, according to the CDC.

What is screwworm?

Dig deeper:

The New World screwworm (NWS) is a species of parasitic flies that can cause myiasis, which is a parasitic infestation that feeds on live tissue.

It primarily affects livestock, but people can also become infested.

Officials say you are at a h

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