Flesh-eating screwworms feast on humans in Mexico; human cases top 500
Six deaths reported among screwworm cases, one directly attributed to the flies.
Since the return of the flesh-eating screwworm fly to Mexico in 2024, human infestations have been rapidly increasing. In 2025 and early 2026, over 500 human cases were reported by the country's Ministry of Health. A new study in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases examined over 200 confirmed cases from April 2025 to March 2026 and found that the infestation rate is accelerating.
The research revealed that six deaths were reported among the 200 confirmed cases. At least one fatality was directly attributed to the maggots of the New World screwworm (NWS) fly. This fly, once endemic to both Mexico and the United States, lays hundreds of eggs in wounds, inflamed tissue, mucous membranes, and orifices of warm-blooded animals.
The resulting maggots hatch within a day and begin consuming the living flesh of their hosts. While these maggots can cause fatal, life-threatening wounds in various warm-blooded species, including humans, they pose particularly severe threats to livestock.
Written by urgent.news from Ars Technica Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
