First Travel-Related Human Case of Screwworm Reported in Maryland

Federal health officials have confirmed the first travel-related case of a Maryland resident contracting a screwworm after returning from Central America. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified the patient as having traveled from El Salvador, according to Andrew Nixon, a spokesperson for Health and Human Services. However, there’s a bit of a discrepancy, as a source from the beef industry noted that the traveler actually came from Guatemala. Nixon has yet to clarify this point.

“The risk to public health in the United States from this referral is very low,” Nixon commented.

This case has raised attention among cattle producers, who continue to monitor the potential spread of these parasites. The USDA has indicated that an outbreak could lead to costs as high as $1.8 billion in Texas alone.

Before the CDC made an announcement, veterinarians in South Dakota were already aware of the case through unofficial channels. Beth Thompson, a state veterinarian, mentioned, “We had to discover it via other routes and then go to the CDC to tell us what was going on.” She expressed frustration about the communication gap, indicating that local authorities were left to figure things out independently.

There have been no confirmed animal cases this year, as per the government’s reports. Last week, USDA Director Brook Rollins shared plans for creating an infertile fly facility in Texas aimed at combating such pests.

Concerns have arisen within the livestock and beef sectors regarding the Maryland situation, as an anonymous source relayed that around 20 industry contacts were alerted last week. Although Maryland government officials have acknowledged the incident, the state health department did not respond to requests for additional comments.