Sri Lanka, Aug. 26 -- A person in the United States has been found to be infected with screwworms, a parasitic fly larva that feeds on living flesh, marking the first time this has been confirmed in a human.

The individual, who had travelled from El Salvador, was discovered by U.S. health officials.

Screwworms originate from the fly known as Cochliomyia hominivorax.The female flies lay their eggs in the open wounds of animals like cattle and deer. Within about 24 hours, the eggs hatch into larvae that feed on the living tissue within the wound as they grow.

The wounds of infected hosts are said to be extremely painful and emit a strong odour.

According to a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this is the...