Flesh-Eating Worms Are Back—And They’re Eating People Alive

Flesh-Eating Worms Are Back—And They’re Eating People Alive

A horrifying parasitic threat, once thought to be nearly eradicated, is making a disturbing return: flesh-eating worms. These organisms, known to invade human flesh and cause gruesome, life-threatening wounds, have re-emerged in regions where they were previously controlled or eliminated. Medical experts and public health officials are now sounding the alarm about this gruesome phenomenon that is quite literally eating people alive.


🪱 What Are Flesh-Eating Worms?

The term « flesh-eating worms » often refers to the New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax), a parasitic fly species whose larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, including humans. Unlike maggots that typically consume dead flesh, screwworm larvae burrow into live flesh—causing massive tissue destruction.

The lifecycle begins when the female fly lays her eggs in open wounds, cuts, or mucous membranes. Once hatched, the larvae begin eating the host from the inside out. If untreated, the infestation can lead to secondary infections, systemic illness, and even death.


⚠️ Recent Outbreaks and Global Concern

In recent months, health authorities in parts of South America, Africa, and the southern United States have reported new cases of screwworm infestations in both humans and livestock. In one shocking case in the Amazon, a farmer reported a small cut on his leg that rapidly swelled and began oozing foul-smelling fluid. Doctors discovered over 100 live larvae burrowed deep into the tissue.

While screwworm infestations in humans were once rare and sporadic, climate change, increased human-animal interaction, and gaps in public health systems are fueling a worrying resurgence.


🧬 How They Attack the Body

Once the eggs hatch—often within 12 to 24 hours—the larvae:

  1. Burrow deeper into the host’s flesh

  2. Release enzymes that liquefy tissue

  3. Feed continuously on living tissue

  4. Cause extreme pain, open wounds, fever, and inflammation

  5. May attract other flies, worsening the infestation

Victims often describe a crawling or wriggling sensation under the skin, and visible movement in the wound is a telltale sign.


🏥 Symptoms of Infection

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