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International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
World
Dani Oh

Flesh-Eating Screwworms Hit 500+ Humans in Mexico as Deadly Parasite Returns to US

New World screwworm larvae feed on living tissue after flies lay eggs in wounds, while US authorities work to contain the parasite in livestock (Credit: USDA)

More than 500 people in Mexico have been infected with New World screwworm as the flesh‑eating parasite spreads north and is detected again in US livestock after decades of eradication.

The resurgence has created a dual public-health and livestock threat. A recent study of confirmed Mexican cases found infections were rising sharply in 2026, while US authorities have begun a new campaign to contain the parasite after detecting it in American animals.

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