This parasite poses an emerging threat to livestock, food security

KEY POINTS

A human case of New World screwworm infestation was reported in the U.S. related to travel.

Screwworm flies lay eggs in the wounds of nasal passages of warm-blooded animals.

The larvae use the hooks on their mouths to burrow or screw their way deeper into wounds.

The New World screwworm has for the first time in years infested a human in the U.S. and federal officials are working to prevent the parasitic creature from getting into the food supply.

The U.S. battled an infestation of the screwworm decades ago and earlier this year closed the southern border to livestock imports over fear U.S. livestock could be infested, as Deseret News earlier reported.

Under an emergency use authorization, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is allowing use of animal drugs to treat or p