The first human case of a flesh-eating parasite infestation has been confirmed in the US, authorities say. New World screwworm (NWS) myiasis was found in a patient who returned to the US from El Salvador, the Department of Health and Human Services said on Monday. The case was confirmed on 4 August.

The parasite — the larvae of the new world screwworm fly — can devastate cattle herds and is rife in parts of Central America.

A rare case of travel-related New World screwworm was identified in Maryland in a patient who traveled from El Salvador, a spokesman from the US Department of Health and Human Services said.