A Human Case Of This Flesh-Eating Parasite Was Reported In The US, So Here’s How To Stay Safe

“The maggots would have to complete their life cycle in the patient, drop off, and mature into flies, find mates, and ultimately lay eggs in animals or people,” he said. “Though I didn’t see the details in the case report, this is pretty unlikely in a human patient.”

What are some good precautions to take when traveling to an area with a screwworm outbreak? 

Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told HuffPost that one should “cover any open wounds, avoid sleeping outdoors, and use insect repellents.”

“The risk is primarily in areas in which the fly is present (close proximity to livestock), so rural areas are where [the] fly is more prevalent,” he said. 

Campbell said that “prevention is key.”