Spread of flesh-eating parasite in Mexico puts US on high alert
According to a June report from the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the New World screwworm (NWS) is a fly larva that infests the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, including humans, that causes a painful condition known as myiasis.
Advertisement
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the name screwworm refers to the feeding behavior of the larvae, known as maggots, as they burrow, or 'screw,' into healthy tissue.
When that happens, the CDC says extensive damage could occur as the maggots tear into their host's tissue with sharp mouth hooks. That wound can then become larger and deeper as more larvae hatch and feed on the tissue.
The USDA said those infestations of NWS can be fatal if left untreated.
Where is the New World screwworm now?
According to the APHIS, the NWS is currently known to exist in parts of every country in South America except Chile, as well as in parts of the Caribbean.
Advertisement
The APHIS said Panama reported a dramatic increase in the number of NWS cases in 2023, and since then has spread northward through Central America.
3 New World screwworm (NWS) is a species of parasitic flies that can cause myiasis and feed on live tissue.
CDC
And in November 2024, the NWS reached the southern state of Mexico.
As of the June report, the APHIS said the NWS has not been spotted in the U.S.
What's being done to prevent the New World screwworm from entering the U.S.?
Advertisement
The APHIS said there are two ways officials can try and prevent the spread of the NWS inside the United States.
One of the ways is by preventing contact between NWS flies and non-infested animals, including the prevention and treatment of wounds in non-infected hosts, as well as by quarantining and treating infested livestock.
Another way to try and prevent the spread of NWS is by stopping the reproduction cycle altogether.
This can be done through the detection and treatment of infested animals, and with the use of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT).
Advertisement
That technique exposes NWS pupae to gamma radiation to create sterile NWS flies. These are then released into the wild from either ground level or the air, with sterile males overwhelmingly mating with wild female flies that then lay unfertilized eggs.
3 Government officials say several key steps have been taken in case an outbreak occurs here.
Rmd17 – stock.adobe.com
The APHIS said that because female NWS often flies only mate with one male during its lifecycle, the population of NWS flies is progressively reduced and then eradicated.
How does it spread?
The CDC says New World screwworm infestations begin when a female fly lays its eggs on open wounds or on other parts of the body and mostly affects livestock.
However, it can also infest birds and humans.
The female flies are attracted to the smell of a wound or other opening, and wounds as small as a tick bite could attract the female.
3 Another way to try and prevent the spread of NWS is by stopping the reproduction cycle altogether.
Rmd17 – stock.adobe.com
One female, according to the CDC, can lay 200-300 eggs at a time and could lay up to 3,000 eggs during its 10- to 30-day lifespan.
Advertisement
Those eggs then hatch into larvae and burrow into the host's flesh.
What are the symptoms?
As we stated above, infestations are very painful.
The CDC says some of the symptoms of infestation include (are you ready?) unexplained skin lesions that don't heal, bleeding from open sores and feeling larvae movement within a skin wound or sore, or in the nose, mouth or eyes.
An infected host may also see maggots around or in the open wounds.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Air quality alerts issued in 10 states as wildfire smoke from Canada lingers in the Midwest and Northeast
This year is shaping up to be one of Canada's worst wildfire seasons on record. Smoke from ongoing wildfires across Canada continued to drift into parts of the United States on Wednesday, causing hazy skies and triggering air quality alerts in multiple states across the upper Midwest and Northeast. Air quality alerts were in effect Wednesday morning from the National Weather Service in parts of the following states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Delaware. As of Aug. 6, there are about 750 active Canadian wildfires, with at least 190 labeled 'out of control,' according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. More than 16 million acres (6.8 million hectares) of land have been scorched this year, making this one of Canada's worst wildfire seasons on record. The Air Quality Index map The Air Quality Index is used nationwide to measure how severe the air pollution is within a given area and has these six ratings: Good Moderate Unhealthy for sensitive groups Unhealthy Very unhealthy Hazardous An Aug. 6 map of the Air Quality Index indicated 'moderate' ratings in parts of the Midwest and Northeast, as well as 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' around the Great Lakes region. What to be aware of during an air quality alert The NWS advises the following during an air quality alert: If it's possible, stay indoors, particularly for seniors, children and those with respiratory concerns or other health problems. If you must go out, try to limit the amount of time outside to essential activities. Minimize the use of cars, gas-powered lawn mowers and other vehicles that can increase pollution. Don't burn debris or other items at this time. Why is wildfire smoke a health concern? Wildfire smoke is a health concern, particularly for sensitive groups, because it contains tiny and dangerous pollutants that can 'affect the lungs and heart and cause serious health effects,' according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Short-term exposure to wildfire smoke can lead to respiratory effects, such as bronchitis or reduced lung function, or cardiovascular effects like a heart attack or stroke, as outlined by the EPA.
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
A massive US measles outbreak has slowed but the start of the school year brings renewed risk of spread
Texas hasn't reported a new outbreak-related measles case in nearly a month — a hopeful sign that one of the largest outbreaks the United States has seen in decades is starting to slow. But the measles threat hasn't faded as new outbreaks and growing case counts in other states add to the national tally. There have been more measles cases reported in the US in the past month – at least 89 confirmed cases since the start of July – than in most years since the disease was declared eliminated a quarter century ago, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And this year's total – 1,356 confirmed cases since January – is higher than it's been in more than 30 years. There have been 32 outbreaks this year, accounting for nearly 90% of all cases since January. Only 10 states remain at zero cases reported this year. The start of the school year in the US poses new threats for the spread of measles amid a record-breaking year for cases and lagging vaccination rates. Experts say that declining childhood vaccination rates across the US coupled with ongoing spread of measles in the US – and large outbreaks in neighboring Canada and Mexico – have raised concerns as children start to gather for the new school year. 'Nobody has a crystal ball, but the conditions are there to see an increased number of cases,' said Dr. Catherine Troisi, an infectious disease epidemiologist at UTHealth Houston. On Saturday, Wisconsin reported nine new cases – all linked to the same exposure during travel to another US state. The state health department isn't releasing more details about the cases – including the vaccination status of the individuals or the specific state they traveled to – in order to 'balance individual privacy for what the public needs to know' and because the risk of community spread is considered to be low, Dr. Ryan Westergaard, chief medical officer in the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Bureau of Communicable Diseases, said at a news briefing on Monday. But new data published by the CDC last week shows that kindergartners in Wisconsin had one of the lowest rates of coverage with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. Only 84.8% of kindergartners had gotten the two recommended doses of the MMR vaccine last school year, well below the 95% threshold necessary to prevent an outbreak. Only Alaska and Idaho had lower MMR vaccination rates, the CDC data shows. 'Back-to-school brings a lot of kids together and measles is very, very infectious,' Troisi said. 'So if you bring kids together and one of them happens to have measles, that's just a great way to spread the virus.' Declining vaccination rates also leave more kids vulnerable, she said, including those who are not vaccinated, those who are vaccinated but immunocompromised and those who are too young to be vaccinated. 'If you have more kids at risk, then the chance of measles spreading increases,' she said. Wisconsin is one of just 15 states that allow parents to exempt their schoolchildren from required vaccines for 'personal conviction reasons,' in addition to religious beliefs or for medical reasons. There was a record rate of exemptions in the US last school year, CDC data shows, with about 3.6% of incoming kindergartners allowed to miss at least one required vaccine – and the exemption rate in Wisconsin was more than double that, at 7.6%. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that non-medical exemptions to school immunization requirements should be eliminated, a longstanding position that the organization recently reaffirmed. 'Exempting children for nonmedical reasons from immunizations is problematic for medical, public health, and ethical reasons and creates unnecessary risk to both individuals and communities,' AAP leaders wrote in a policy statement last month. 'Although there are certainly families who would value having the option to decline vaccines and also send their children to school, nonmedical exemptions threaten the safety of the entire school community and shift the burden of protecting their children to the parents of children who are medically fragile, immunocompromised, or unable to receive immunizations for medical reasons.' A new measles outbreak was announced in Michigan's Osceola County last week, with the original case resulting from an individual who was exposed to measles while traveling out of state. It's the third outbreak in the state, which has now reported at least 27 cases this year. Wyoming also reported a batch of new measles cases on Saturday: four new cases in Carbon County were exposed to an individual with a confirmed measles infection, bringing the state's total up to seven. Data from the Wyoming health department shows that Carbon County had some of the lowest vaccination rates among children in the state in 2023, ranking 21st out of 23 counties with just 66% of toddlers having gotten at least one dose of the MMR vaccine. 'County-level vaccination coverage estimates are important because public health issues often begin in small geographic areas and certain public health actions are most effective at the local level,' according to the Wyoming health department. Unvaccinated individuals tend to be geographically clustered within certain communities, experts say, as families with similar sociocultural beliefs often live near each other. 'This phenomenon results in a greater likelihood of disease outbreaks when a vaccine-preventable illness is introduced into these communities,' AAP leaders wrote in the policy statement. 'Outbreaks that start in communities with low vaccination coverage have the potential to spread beyond those communities into other communities with low vaccination coverage or into the broader population, particularly for diseases like measles, varicella, and pertussis.' While the start of the school year poses new risks, it also creates opportunities for trusted community leaders to encourage and promote vaccination, experts say. 'We do know that if vaccine clinics are held at schools, that will increase (coverage) just by making it easier for parents to get their kids vaccinated,' Troisi said. 'School nurses are respected, so having them talk about how important vaccines are is another strategy.'
Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Miami Herald
Florida reports 13 cases of flesh-eating bacteria; death toll climbs to eight
Florida has reported 13 cases of Vibrio vulnificus, a bacteria commonly known as 'flesh-eating,' across 11 counties, with the death toll rising to eight, according to the Florida Department of Health. 'Eight of these cases were related to wound exposure, and all cases have been sporadic and unrelated to an outbreak,' health officials told el Nuevo Herald. As of July 24, the state had reported four deaths: one in Bay County, one in Broward, another in Hillsborough, and one more in Walton. The counties where the other deaths occurred have not yet been disclosed. The highest number of Vibrio vulnificus cases in Florida was recorded in 2024, with 82 infections and 19 deaths. Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Pasco, Pinellas, and Sarasota counties 'experienced an unusual increase in cases due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene,' according to state health authorities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that extreme weather events, such as coastal flooding, hurricanes, and storm surges, can cause coastal waters to spread inland, increasing the risk of Vibrio infections in wounds among people exposed to these waters — especially older evacuees or those with underlying health conditions. A similar situation occurred in Florida after Hurricane Ian in 2022. Each year, an average of 150 to 200 cases are reported in the U.S., with most occurring in Gulf Coast states, according to the CDC. Most people infected with Vibrio experience diarrhea, and some may also have stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, and chills. One species, V. vulnificus, is known to cause life-threatening infections, and about one in five infected people die — sometimes within one to two days after becoming ill, according to the CDC. Louisiana has reported the most Vibrio vulnificus cases so far in 2025, with 17 infections — well above the state's annual average of seven, based on data from the Louisiana Department of Health. The bacteria live in coastal waters, including saltwater and brackish water (a mix of salt and fresh water). Most people become infected by eating raw or undercooked seafood, particularly oysters. Infection can also occur when an open wound is exposed to water containing the bacteria, according to the CDC's website. The Florida Department of Health recommends taking steps to avoid infection, such as cooking seafood to safe internal temperatures before eating, keeping raw or undercooked seafood and their juices away from other foods. Other tips include: Washing your hands with soap and water after handling raw open wounds, cuts, or scrapes with a waterproof bandage when in contact with seawater, brackish water, floodwater, or standing cleaning wounds with clean water and soap after any exposure to such water, or to raw or undercooked seafood or their immediate medical attention if a wound becomes red, swollen, oozes pus, or shows other signs of infection such as fever, increasing pain, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, confusion, or disorientation.
