Panama Reports First Human Infection of New World Screwworm in Over a Decade
Panama City, Panama - The Ministry of Health in Panama has officially confirmed a case of New World screwworm myiasis in a human patient, marking the first documented instance of the parasitic infestation in the country since 2013. The incident was reported on Monday, with health authorities stating the infected individual, a 62-year-old male from a rural district in the Darién Province, presented with a lesion infested by the larvae of the *Cochliomyia hominivorax* fly. Officials are conducting an epidemiological investigation to trace the source of the contamination and to assess potential risks to livestock and public health. The patient is currently under medical care and is reported to be in stable condition. The announcement has prompted an alert for medical professionals and a renewed emphasis on wound care protocols across the region.