The authorities of Costa Rica confirmed on Monday the first case of screwworm in a human recorded in the country, so experts began work to verify or rule out more cases.
The case was confirmed by the Ministry of Health and the National Animal Health Service (SENASA). This is a man who lives in the town of Altamira de Pavones, province of Puntarenas, in the southern part of Costa Rica and near the border with Panama.
The patient is admitted to the Golfito hospital, Puntarenas.
Screwworm is a disease caused by the larvae of the fly Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel) that lays its eggs in the open wound of a warm-blooded animal, including people.
Hours after they have been deposited, the worms are born, which feed on living tissue. The larvae hatch and develop under the skin causing a condition known as cutaneous myiasis.
Symptoms include the presence of a painful lump on the skin that may secrete fluid. As the larva grows, it may be visible under the skin and can often be felt moving. Treatment usually involves surgical removal of the larva, followed by local care.
The authorities reported that they are following up on the issue to determine if there are more cases and that they are working on a protocol to address these cases and thus begin a sweep in the area.
On February 7, the government of Costa Rica declared a health emergency due to the detection of at least 203 cases of screwworm in cattle, horses, pigs, sheep and dogs.
As part of this, active surveillance was initiated on the farms where cases are detected, and suspicious complaints are attended to at livestock auctions, veterinary pharmacies and residential homes.
SENASA reported that it is dispersing some 15 million sterile male flies and that it has placed traps to identify the presence of the fly, define affected areas and establish control measures.
Costa Rica will install new checkpoints on highways for the inspection of transported animals, will place more field personnel to respond to complaints, and will coordinate with veterinary services in Mexico and Central American countries to strengthen sanitary measures.
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