The Mexican Ministry of Health confirmed the first human case of myiasis caused by the cattle screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) in the country.
The case occurred in a 77-year-old woman residing in the municipality of Acacoyagua, in Chiapas.
Myiasis is a parasitic disease that primarily affects cattle, but in rare cases can occur in humans, as recently occurred in Chiapas. This disease is caused by larvae of the insect Cochliomyia hominivorax, which feed on the living tissue of their host.
After detecting the case, the Chiapas State Health Services began the corresponding investigation.
The patient was stabilized, is under antibiotic treatment, and was transferred to the Ciudad Salud High Specialty Hospital in Tapachula, where she continues to receive medical care.
In 2025, a case of screwworm was detected in a calf in Yucatán, on the Tzucacab ranch, a municipality in the southern part of the state. This infestation has affected 51 animals and puts 3,133 more at risk in the Yucatán Peninsula. Although Yucatán is the only state on the peninsula with just one case, the presence of the screwworm is a warning for local livestock.
The maggot is the larva of a fly that causes myiasis, a parasitic disease that affects both animals and humans. Female flies lay their eggs in open wounds or body cavities, where the larvae feed on living tissue. In Yucatán, the detection of the first case has generated concern and led authorities to implement preventive measures, such as larvicidal spray baths, inspections, and advanced diagnostics.
Health and Agriculture authorities implemented joint actions to prevent new cases. Information sessions are being held for the population on epidemiological surveillance and prevention, and training is being provided to health and agriculture personnel with support from the National Service for Health, Safety, and Agrifood Quality (SENASICA).
To date, no additional cases of myiasis in humans have been identified. Authorities remain on alert to protect the population and actively monitor any outbreaks in the region.
TYT Newsroom
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