The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed a travel-related case of New World screwworm (NWS) in Maryland, involving a patient who had recently returned from El Salvador.
The CDC verified the diagnosis on August 4 through telediagnosis, after reviewing images of larvae submitted by physicians. Health officials emphasize that the risk to the public in the United States remains very low, and no livestock movement restrictions have been put in place.
While this is not the first case of NWS in a U.S. traveler, officials note it was quickly contained under established CDC protocols. Previous incidents include infections contracted during travel to the Dominican Republic, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, and Colombia.
Photo Credit: USDA
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