The first case of New World screwworm has been detected in the U.S. in a human. It was found in a resident of Maryland on Aug. 4, 2025, who had traveled from El Salvador. The person has received treatment for the infection.
"This is the first human case of travel-associated New World screwworm myiasis (parasitic infestation of fly larvae) from an outbreak-affected country identified in the United States," Emily Hilliard, Health and Human Services spokesperson said in a statement. "The risk to public health in the United States from this introduction is very low.”
The USDA continues its five-part strategy to eradicate screwworms, including building a sterile fly production facility and releasing lab-bred male flies that can’t reproduce into outbreak zones.
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