Officials Warn New Yorkers About Rare, Deadly Parasitic Fly

Health experts are cautioning New Yorkers to be vigilant after the New World screwworm - a dangerous parasitic fly not seen in the U.S. for decades - has been detected again.

According to federal officials, the first human case of New World screwworm in the United States has been confirmed. These flies are known to infest both livestock and humans, feeding on healthy tissue.

Screwworms seek out open wounds where they lay eggs. Once larvae hatch, they burrow into tissue, causing severe damage.

“Are very painful,” the CDC reports. “If you have an NWS infestation, you may see maggots (larvae) around or in an open wound. They could also be in your nose, eyes, or mouth,” the CDC states.

Symptoms of New World Screwworm Infestation

-Unexplained wounds or sores that don’t heal

-Skin lesions that progressively worsen

-Painful sores with possible bleeding

-Sensation of larvae moving inside wounds, nose, mouth, or eyes

-Visible maggots in or around sores

-Strong foul odor coming from the site of infection

The U.S. had previously declared the parasite eradicated in 1966, but recent outbreaks in Mexico triggered temporary halts to cattle imports between November and February, and again in May.

This week, federal health officials confirmed the first travel-associated U.S. case, involving a Maryland resident who developed the infection after returning from El Salvador, where an outbreak is ongoing.

A spokesperson told NPR the risk to the wider American public “from this introduction is very low.”

Officials Warn New Yorkers About Rare, Deadly Parasitic Fly