Nicaragua reports 271 cases of the screwworm fly in humans since April 2024
114 of the 271 cases are concentrated in the department of Managua, followed by Masaya with 30, Chinandega with 26, Carazo with 19, and the city of Leon with 17.
TL;DR
- Nicaragua has reported 271 human cases of the screwworm fly.
- A national animal health alert has been active since April 2024 due to the parasite.
- The majority of human cases (114) are in Managua, followed by Masaya, Chinandega, Carazo, and Leon.
- Infestation in humans occurs when larvae enter open wounds, often from parasitized pets.
- The parasite has affected 27,916 cases overall, including 19,105 in cattle, 4,048 in pigs, and 2,362 in dogs.
- Cases were primarily detected in areas bordering Costa Rica, suggesting the parasite entered Nicaragua from there.
- The United States has allocated $110 million to contain the screwworm fly in Central America.