HHS confirmed the first human case of New World screwworm in the United States following a CDC confirmation weeks earlier. The infected person traveled from Central America, with reports naming Guatemala. New World screwworm larvae are conical with sharp teeth and burrow into living flesh in a screw-like fashion. Adult flies lay eggs on tissue around wounds; hatched larvae invade flesh and later drop to the ground to pupate and mature into flies. NWS larvae uniquely consume living tissue rather than only necrotic flesh, frequently infecting areas around open wounds and posing risks to animals and humans.
On Sunday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed the first human case of the flesh-eating New World screwworm (NWS) inside the United States, reported Reuters. The HHS's confirmation came weeks after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was said to have confirmed the same case of New World screwworm infestation. Fast Company reached out to HHS for comment.
The New World screwworm is a species of parasitic flies, according to the CDC. The larvae of the flies have a conical shape and have sharp teeth, which they use to eat through and burrow into flesh in a screw-like fashion. NWS fly larvae are introduced to animal and human flesh when the NWS fly lays her eggs on the tissue surrounding wounds on animals and humans. When the eggs hatch, the larvae screw their way into the flesh, infecting it.
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