The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reported on August 24 the country’s first human case of travel-associated New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite linked to outbreaks in other countries. HHS spokesman Andrew G. Nixon said the case involved a Maryland patient who had recently returned from El Salvador.
New World screwworm is a parasitic fly that feeds on the living tissue of cattle and other warm-blooded animals. The parasite has been responsible for an outbreak that began spreading north from Central America and southern Mexico in late 2024, raising concerns about its potential to reach the United States.
This case highlights the broader risks posed by parasitic diseases. While relatively uncommon in some parts of the world, in other regions they can be absolutely devastating. Passed on to people via parasites found in contaminated food, water, soil, or bug bites, it's important to note that not all parasitic diseases are due to poor sanitation or poverty. In fact, anyone can be exposed to parasites.
Click on to discover the scariest parasitic diseases in the world and the culprits that carry them.