health
Flesh-eating screwworms feast on humans in Mexico; human cases top 500
Six deaths reported among screwworm cases, one directly attributed to the flies.
TL;DR
- Over 500 human cases of the flesh-eating screwworm fly have been reported in Mexico in 2025 and 2026.
- A study analyzing over 200 cases between April 2025 and March 2026 revealed an increasing infestation pace.
- Six deaths were reported among the confirmed human cases, with one directly attributed to the fly's maggots.
- The New World screwworm fly, which lays eggs in wounds leading to maggot infestation on living flesh, was previously eradicated from Mexico.
- The fly's reappearance is linked to a breach in Panama's biological barrier in 2022, followed by animal cases in Mexico in 2024.
- Human cases, known as myiasis, can cause severe, life-threatening wounds affecting muscle, cartilage, and bone.
- The study found most human cases in males, with a mean age of 61, and a significant percentage in individuals with underlying health conditions.
- Legs and feet were the most common sites of infestation in humans, though head and neck areas were also affected.
- Researchers advocate for a 'One Health' approach, integrating human, animal, wildlife, and agricultural sectors for proactive prevention and control.
- The US has reported animal cases in Texas following the resurgence, but no human cases have been reported domestically yet.