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There has been a stir in the world due to the discovery of a worm that eats live humans. 5086 cases of this have been reported in Mexico, out of which more than 3 dozen cases have been reported in humans. According to NPR News, this parasite that eats the flesh of live humans has been discovered for the first time in America. The first case has been registered in a human in America. This has created a stir in the whole world. Let us know who is this parasite that eats live humans and how does it eat the flesh of live humans and animals? The parasite that eats humans alive has come into the world This parasite has been named New World Screwworm. It penetrates inwards into the wounds of live humans and animals like a screw. Its structure is also somewhat like a screw. That is why it has been called screwworm. The first case of screwworm in a human has been registered in America. This is a parasite, which is now spreading from South America towards the north. This has caused a wave of concern in the animal industry of America in recent months. 5086 cases found in Mexico The highest number of cases of this parasite have been registered in Mexico. A total of 5086 cases have been found in humans and animals here, of which about 41 cases are of humans. While the other cases are of animals. These include cows, dogs, horses and other animals. At the same time, the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with the Maryland Health Department, has also confirmed this case in the US on August 4. This screwworm was found in a patient who had returned from a trip to El Salvador. Andrew Nixon, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, gave this information to NPR. What is New World Screwworm? According to the CDC, the New World Screwworm is a type of parasitic fly that is commonly found in South America and the Caribbean regions. Its female fly lays its eggs in the wounded skin of living animals or in any open part of the body. The larvae (worms) emerging from the eggs infect the animal's flesh by eating it in a live state. This infection is rare in human cases, but it can be extremely painful and can be fatal if not treated. The worm can reach the brain North Carolina State University professor Max Scott said, "If the infection starts and the flies start laying eggs, then its worms can reach the brain or other sensitive parts of the body, causing serious conditions like sepsis (blood infection)." However, it is not a virus, but an insect, so the infection is not contagious. Why is the animal industry in America worried? In the past one year, this parasite was found in animal farms in Mexico and now it is moving towards the US-Mexico border. In view of this danger, the US government has taken several steps. In 2025, the USDA announced plans to build America's first "sterile fly production facility" in Edinburg, Texas to deal with this parasite, where 300 million infertile flies will be produced every week. In this technique, flies are made infertile with radiation and released into the environment. So that female flies mate with infertile males and cannot lay eggs. With this technique, the US eradicated the screwworm in 1966 and a small outbreak in Florida in 2017 was also controlled. Where and why is this parasite spreading now? According to Professor Scott, the reason for this may be the movement of infected animals, the reduction in the effectiveness of existing sterile flies and the breakdown of natural barriers. New cases have recently been reported in Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras. In 2024, a human died in Costa Rica. This is believed to be the first human death since 1990. In July 2025, Nicaragua confirmed 124 cases. The US banned the import of cattle from Mexico in November 2024, which was lifted in February and re-implemented in May. A new sterile fly plant to control the screwworm will be ready in Mexico by 2026.