A new case of screwworm in a human has been reported in the Altamira 2 Ejido, in the municipality of Mapastepec, located in the coastal region of Chiapas, as confirmed by sources close to the patient.
The person involved is a man in his 40s, who was admitted to the Ciudad Salud Regional High Specialty Hospital in Tapachula for specialized treatment after his family members manipulated a wound and detected the presence of the screwworm.
Chiapas accounts for 60 percent of cases.
So far, this is the third case of myiasis reported in Chiapas. The first was detected in the municipality of Acacoyagua, the second in Tuzantán, and this third in Mapastepec.
According to information from the National Service of Health, Safety, and Agrifood Quality (Senasica), of the 1,500 cases of screwworm reported nationwide, Chiapas has recorded 900 of them, accounting for 60 percent of the total.
It should be noted that, to date, the Chiapas Ministry of Health has not released official information on the patient’s health status.
Most affected municipalities in the state
The municipalities most affected by the events are Huixtla, Mapastepec, Acacoyagua, Tuzantán, and Villa Comaltitlán on the coast. The northern region bordering the state of Tabasco, where the Catazajá Beaches area is located, quarantined around 200 cattle last November.
Screwworm infestation, also known as myiasis, is caused by the larvae of the fly Cochliomyia hominivorax, which invades livestock, causing serious damage if not promptly addressed.
Source: milenio
