In a shocking development, the United States has confirmed its first human case of the flesh-eating screwworm parasite, a deadly insect that feeds on living tissue. The case has been linked to travel from Central America, specifically El Salvador and Guatemala, where outbreaks of the New World screwworm have been reported.
According to **[Sky News](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqwFBVV95cUxNQ2lpMDVBTDBTeGtBM285elBHc0x6Z3dlV2dmQ3hOelZVRThwaFhYQlB2M1I0SW1EamJnd0J5T1pzT3hrYU9vLXZQZF9GaGp6ODZMVlhBM2x6Nm14V1NJRkR5NzZVUHVpQXpXbnJhQXBwNndjMGZTMWtHVTZJV0RLbVh2UzdyUGtsSGV5UWlmMUxLc1BtWnhpaFdDZUI4LVo1MmRZWmJSNE16N1k?oc=5&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en)**, this is the first time a human case of the screwworm parasite has been detected in the U.S. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has allowed the emergency use of animal drugs to combat this dangerous parasite and protect the food supply.
**[Axios](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijwFBVV95cUxOQ1lBOFdPdWphZ041M3BqTkZVR0dUV0YyUC1ybXFuOFVBdXhiVXB2NlVFZGtsbnZrZGxfVjVRcUFQQWpHd2lWMGlQbGpDS2d3dTQ2SGVJZGVUMldHX3plYmY4S2VhaVpJbWlRa212VjlTM3hQNkxUanZJZEpFdTlPNUFFdEVlblh0Q1NCTkZ6OA?oc=5&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en)** reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) worked with the Maryland Department of Health to confirm the case on August 4th. The patient had recently traveled from El Salvador, where the screwworm outbreak has been a concern.
**[NBC News](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirAFBVV95cUxPcHlyZURDc3hLNE16VnhfVDVXQ01RTlZfTnNJR2dOVkZ0MFJLLTVWYUNtMnp3SHVmMkVPRmE5U1NGWXN6bHZYeEZWM0FOb1B0enc5UFF2dF9zT0FmTVNyRVNsaUNoRkhEUFV5ZWQ5TVd0U2ZSbC10Qkp4S3o5RWJyeVVuOXdWb3hySV8tdm1EdlpTZFdNdmczMk5WYnhZNnpBZmJGYnZHSHEzdG5q0gFWQVVfeXFMUENrOXZEamhmeTBzb0NZanJyWElzQ3dURExQUm15N1Z6a0VMcXdSUU1hNTZGcTBmdWdkSHBNWkc0LU8yUEItNlhVMVpCYXYxVkhQUDVhWmc?oc=5&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en)** further emphasizes the severity of this case, highlighting the rare nature of such an occurrence in the U.S. The CDC has been actively involved in investigating and confirming the presence of the screwworm parasite in the affected individual.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has assured the public that the risk to public health in the U.S. from this introduction is very low, as mentioned by HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon in a statement to **[CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-world-screwworm-first-human-case-travel-confirmed-cdc-hhs/)**.
This alarming development underscores the importance of vigilance in monitoring and addressing potential health threats, especially those that can have severe consequences. The collaboration between various health agencies and departments is crucial in containing and managing such outbreaks effectively.
**Political Bias Index: Green (Neutral)**
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