Maryland Reports First U.S. Screwworm Case in 2025

A human case of the flesh-eating New World screwworm parasite has been confirmed in Maryland, the first in the U.S. this year. The patient, who had traveled from Guatemala, received treatment and survived. South Dakota’s state veterinarian Beth Thompson said she was notified of the case last week, while a second source told Reuters that the CDC confirmed the infection. Another source reported that the Beef Alliance circulated emails warning livestock groups, and Maryland state officials also confirmed the case. Experts warn that screwworms, which eat living tissue, are moving northward from Central America and pose a serious threat to U.S. cattle and wildlife.