BALTIMORE — Parasitic blowflies, which feed on the flesh of warm-blooded animals.

Dr. Heather Walden of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine describes the signs of New World screwworm infestation.

“It becomes very putrid. It smells,” said Walden, “They’re feeding on these tissues and a lot of times what happens is as they’re feeding and you’ve got all of this going on, you’re getting some dead tissue there.”

According to the CDC, the flies lay eggs in open wounds or in body openings such as the eyes, ears, nose or mouth.

It is rare in humans and doesn’t spread from person to person, and it primarily impacts livestock.

“This parasite has been in Central and South America for decades,” said Walden, “We’ve been working here in the United States and with other countrie

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