At a glance
During this COCA Call, a subject matter expert will outline the biology and life cycle of C. hominivorax, explain the current epidemiology in Central America, review guidance on how to identify infestations, and discuss how to appropriately manage and report cases of NWS in humans.
Overview
New World screwworm (NWS) (Cochliomyia hominivorax) flies produce larvae that feed on living tissue, causing disease primarily in animals and livestock, though humans can also be infested. NWS was eradicated in the United States in the 1960s, in Mexico in the 1970s, and in Central America in the early 2000s. However, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras have recently documented new cases, causing concern about continued northward spread. In addition, travel-associated cases are occasionally identified in people returning to the United States from areas where NWS is endemic, posing an ongoing threat of re-introduction to the United States. Raising awareness of NWS among healthcare providers will improve rapid diagnosis, appropriate management, and critical reporting to appropriate entities.
During this COCA Call, a subject matter expert will outline the biology and life cycle of C. hominivorax, explain the current epidemiology in Central America, review guidance on how to identify infestations, and discuss how to appropriately manage and report cases of NWS in humans.
Presenters
Rebecca Chancey, MD
Medical Officer
Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Mark Fox, MS, MS (Q & A Only)
Biologist
Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Susan P. Montgomery, DVM, MPH (Q & A Only)
Team Lead
Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Call Objectives
COCA Call Objectives
At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to accomplish the following:
- Cite background information on the topic covered during the presentation.
- Discuss CDC's role in the topic covered during the presentation.
- Describe the topic's implications for clinicians.
- Discuss concerns and/or issues related to preparedness for and/or response to urgent public health threats.
- Promote health improvement, wellness, and disease prevention in cooperation with patients, communities, at-risk populations, and other members of an interprofessional team of healthcare providers.
Activity-Specific Objectives
- Explain the life cycle of Cochliomyia hominivorax and why the larvae are a threat to animal and human health.
- Describe the current epidemiological situation in Central America.
- Summarize how to identify and treat infestations.
- Outline how to report human and animal cases.
Additional Resources
NWS – CDC
- About New World Screwworm Myiasis | Myiasis | CDC
- Clinical Overview of New World Screwworm Myiasis | Myiasis | CDC
- Acerca de la miasis por el gusano barrenador del Nuevo Mundo | Myiasis | CDC
- Información clínica sobre la miasis por el gusano barrenador del Nuevo Mundo | Myiasis | CDC
- Laboratory Diagnosis of New World Screwworm (bench aid)
NWS – external resources
- New World screwworm – USDA
- New World screwworm: What You Need to Know (English and Spanish)
- New World screwworm Story Map
- Screwworm: An International Threat to Human and Animal Health
Reporting agencies
- Human cases – local and state health departments
- Animal cases – state animal health office and APHIS office
Insect bite prevention – CDC
- Preventing Mosquito Bites | Mosquitoes | CDC
- Preventing Mosquito Bites While Traveling | Mosquitoes | CDC
- About Permethrin-Treated Clothing and Gear | Mosquitoes | CDC
- How to Prevent Mosquito and Tick Bites | Vector-Borne Diseases | CDC
Insect repellents
Clinical or diagnostic assistance
- Clinical inquiries and case management questions from healthcare providers and health departments is available from CDC at 404-718-4745 or parasites@cdc.gov (during regular business hours).
- Direct inquiries outside of regular business hours to CDC's Emergency Operations Center at 770-488-7100.
- Diagnostic assistance for suspected human cases – dpdx@cdc.gov.
Continuing Education
Instructions for Obtaining Continuing Education (CE)
To receive continuing education (CE) for WC4520R-101724—Resurgence of New World Screwworm in the Americas: What Healthcare Providers Need to Know, please visit CDC TRAIN and search for the course in the Course Catalog using WC4520R-101724. Follow the steps below by November 18, 2024. The registration code is COCA101724.
To receive continuing education (CE) for WD4520R-101724— Resurgence of New World Screwworm in the Americas: What Healthcare Providers Need to Know, please visit CDC TRAIN and search for the course in the Course Catalog using WD4520R-101724. Follow the steps below between November 19, 2024, and November 19, 2026.
- Register for and complete the course.
- Pass the post-assessment at 75%.
- Complete the evaluation.
- Visit Your Learning to access your certificates and transcript.
Accreditation Statements
In support of improving patient care, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
CME: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
AAPA CME: Credit Designation Statement – Live
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 1 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
CNE: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designates this activity for 1 nursing contact hours.
CPE: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designated this Knowledge-based event for pharmacists to receive 0.1 CEUs in pharmacy education. The Universal Activity Number is JA4008229-0000-23-147-L04-P and enduring is JA4008229-0000-23-148-H04-P.
CEU: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is authorized by IACET to offer 0.1 CEUs for this program.
CECH: Sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a designated provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. This program is designated for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES®) and/or Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES®) to receive up to 1 total Category I continuing education contact hours. Maximum advanced level continuing education contact hours available are 1. Continuing Competency credits available are 1. CDC provider number 98614.
AAVSB/RACE: This program has been submitted (but not yet approved) for 1 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB RACE approval; however, participants should be aware that some boards have limitations on the number of hours accepted in certain categories or restrictions on certain methods of delivery of continuing education.
For Certified Public Health Professionals (CPH): The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a pre-approved provider of Certified in Public Health (CPH) recertification credits and is authorized to offer 1 CPH recertification credits for this program.
DISCLOSURE: In compliance with continuing education requirements, all planners and presenters/moderators must disclose all financial relationships, in any amount, with ineligible companies over the previous 24 months as well as any use of unlabeled product(s) or products under investigational use.
CDC, our planners, presenters, and moderators wish to disclose they have no financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
Content will not include any discussion of the unlabeled use of a product or a product under investigational use with the exception of Dr. Rebecca Chancey's discussion of anecdotal reports of using ivermectin in off-label treatment of NWS infestations in humans. However, there are no controlled, double-blind studies measuring the impact of ivermectin use on myasis. At this time, it is not a CDC recommended treatment for NWS. In addition, Mark Fox and Dr. Susan Montgomery who will be participating in the Q & A session, will also discuss this, if requested.
CDC did not accept financial or in-kind support from ineligible companies for this continuing education activity.
Target Audience
- Physicians
- Nurses
- Pharmacists
- Veterinarians
- Physician Assistants
- Health Educators
- Other Clinicians
Additional Information
- Contact Information: coca@cdc.gov
- Support/Funding: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Emergency Risk Communication
- Method of Participation: You may participate in the educational activity by viewing the program information above.