Screwworms in the US: The risk to humans is low – but they can dig into your skull

Screwworm infection “can be fatal, especially when it affects the skin,” the doctors wrote in their article. “The maggots can burrow into the skull, the dura (outer membrane around the brain), and enter the brain, leading to an 8 percent mortality rate.” They asked doctors to be especially careful with head wounds.

Every opening is an opportunity

If there is another case that can be compared to what is happening, it is probably the story of August 2025. Doctors in Honduras told about the story of a 55-year-old man who fell ill. screwworm damage in its tumors. He was in so much pain that the doctors had to put him in the hospital to see what was going on, which required surgery. When the surgeons began to remove the bulging, damaged muscles around the anus, they found 22 screwworm larvae.

Doctors say his illness was caused by his work as a septic operator. They wrote: “Prolonged exposure to faecal matter, lack of hygiene, frequent use of the toilet, and minor skin breakdown,” as well as an increase in gastric ulcers were risk factors in this case. (We are not directly linking to the photo of the surgical site, but the photo of the 22 larvae released is Here.)

The surgeons carefully dissected the area and removed all the maggots. They operated on him to remove his tumors and started him on antibiotics and the antiparasitic drug ivermectin. About two weeks later, her pain was gone and her wound was healing well.

Although these cases show the danger of wounds and weakness, many others show that the flies will happily enter the good legs, such as ears and the nose.

In March this year, doctors in Ecuador told the story of a 75-year-old man with epilepsy who suffered a seizure. screwworm infection in his mouth. The case was caught too late, and he died eight hours after being admitted to the hospital, where more than 300 maggots were removed from his mouth, tongue, palate, and mouth.

As flea infestations spread across the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging people in areas where the larvae are prevalent. avoid contact by keeping wounds clean, wearing insect repellent, wearing loose clothing to prevent penetration, and avoiding sleeping outside, especially during the day.