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

What we know:

Health officials confirm that a Maryland resident was diagnosed with New World screwworm earlier this month after traveling to El Salvador.

It has been declared the first human case in the United States by the Centers for Diesease Control and Prevention.

The Maryland Department of Health confirms that there is no indication of transmission to any other people or animals, and that the risk to public health in the U.S. remains very low.

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 c

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