Earlier this week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed the first human case of a flesh-eating parasite in the U.S. The patient, a Maryland resident, had recently returned from travel to El Salvador and was found to be infected with New World screwworm, an HHS spokesperson told ABC News.

The parasite — the larva of the new world screwworm fly — can devastate cattle herds and is rife in parts of Central America.

The New World screwworm is a type of fly that can cause widespread devastation to livestock, wildlife and pets.