California – The California Department of Public Health is urging travelers to take precautions after a rare case of a parasite known as the New World screwworm was detected in the United States this summer. Though the warning is precautionary, health officials say the risks—both to humans and to livestock—are serious enough to merit attention.
The parasite is small, but its impact can be severe. Less than an inch long, screwworm larvae burrow into wounds and feed on living tissue, creating painful sores that can spread if left untreated. The case that prompted the new warning was found in Maryland, in a traveler returning from abroad. Now California officials want physicians and residents alike to recognize the signs of infection should it appear closer to home.
Dr. Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease specialist at UC San Francisco, did not mince words. “It’s so gross,” she said. The process begins when a female fly lays eggs inside even a minor cut—a nick from shaving, for example. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae can dig deeper into the skin. “It can really be very painful,” Gandhi explained…