(Reuters) -The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday authorized emergency use of Elanco Animal Health’s chewable tablet to treat the infestation of a parasite in cats known as New World screwworm.

Shares of the company were up more than 3% in afternoon trading.

The agency said it is the first time it has cleared a drug specifically for this use in cats and kittens. The authorization allows the drug, branded as Credelio CAT, to be used while U.S. health officials consider New World screwworm a potential public health emergency.

The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly species whose larvae infest open wounds on warm-blooded animals, including livestock and humans.

Most cats in the U.S. are at low risk of New World screwworm due to their geographic location, the agency said. Outdo

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