First human case of screwworms reported in Maryland

TAKOMA PARK, Md. (DC News Now) — An unidentified Maryland person has recovered after they became the first reported human case of screwworms in the nation in quite a while.

Screwworms are flies whose females lay eggs in wounds on any warm-blooded animal.

Once the eggs hatch, hundreds of screwworm larvae use their sharp mouths to burrow through living flesh and eventually kill their host if left untreated.

Screwworms are mostly found in cattle, and rare for humans to get them.

“I mean, if one person can carry it over, I think others could. So if they don’t get treated right away, it could be it could possibly spread. And if it does spread, it would cause some problems,” said Kavita Vaidyanthan of Silver Spring.

Reuters reports the unidentified person came down with the flesh-eating larvae on Aug. 4 after they returned from a trip to El Salvador.

There have been no other reported cases of screwworms around the state, as the Maryland Department of Health said the risk to the public and animals right now is very low.