Case Confirmed in Maryland
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed the first U.S. human case of travel-related New World screwworm. The patient, who recently returned from El Salvador, was diagnosed on August 4 by the CDC and Maryland health officials. Earlier reports linked the case to Guatemala, creating some confusion. Officials, however, stress the public health risk remains very low.
Industry on Edge
The confirmation has rattled cattle ranchers, beef producers, and traders already worried about infestations moving north from Central America and Mexico. The USDA estimates a major outbreak could cost Texas alone nearly $1.8 billion in livestock losses, labor, and treatment costs.
Government Response
To counter the threat, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins recently announced a sterile fly facility in Texas. This project, expected to take two to three years, will expand efforts to suppress screwworm populations. Currently, only one production plant operates in Panama, though experts say five times more sterile flies are needed to push the pest south.
Communication Gaps Raise Concerns
State veterinarians reported learning of the Maryland case through indirect channels, sparking frustration over limited transparency. Emails from a Beef Alliance executive warned members about the case while stressing patient privacy restrictions. The CDC has since notified Maryland officials and agriculture stakeholders.
What Are Screwworms?
Screwworm flies lay eggs in open wounds of warm-blooded animals. Their larvae burrow into living tissue, causing severe damage and sometimes death. While human infestations are rare, untreated cases can be fatal. Treatment requires painstaking removal of larvae and wound disinfection.
Northward Spread of the Pest
Screwworms have been advancing through Mexico since 2023, with recent cases detected just 370 miles from the U.S. border. Mexico is also building a $51 million sterile fly facility to contain the spread.
