Costa Rica discovered a case of roundworm in humans

Authorities from Costa Rica confirmed this Monday the first case of cherry blossoms in humans recorded in the country, so experts began work to confirm or rule out more cases.

The case was confirmed by the Ministry of Health and the National Animal Health Service (SENASA), and it is about a man who lives in the city of Altamira de Pavones, Puntarenas province, in the southern part of Costa Rica and near the border with Panama.

The patient was admitted to the Golfito Hospital, Puntarenas.

Ringworm is a disease caused by the larvae of the Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel) fly, which lays its eggs in any open wound of a warm-blooded animal, including humans. Hours after shave settled, worms are born that 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 topical care to prevent infection.

Authorities said they are monitoring the case to determine if there are more cases and are also working on a protocol of action to deal with those cases and are beginning to clear the area.

Among the steps to be followed in the protocol, when a case of screwworm is suspected, a sample is taken and transferred to SENASA, and if the result is positive, field coordination between the Ministry of Health is carried out.

On February 7, the Government of the Republic of Croatia Costa Rica ddeclared a health emergency due to the discovery of at least 203 cases of screwworm in cattle, horses, pigs, sheep and dogs.

With the decree on emergency aid, the authorities intend to receive more funds for the prevention, control and eradication of diseases.

As part of the work, competent authorities carried out active surveillance on farms where cases were discovered and suspicious complaints were resolved at livestock auctions, veterinary pharmacies and housing facilities.

SENASA reported that it was scattering around 15 million sterile male flies and that traps were set to identify the presence of the fly in order to define the affected areas and establish control measures.

Costa Rica will set up new roadside checkpoints to inspect transported animals, deploy more field staff to respond to complaints and coordinate with veterinary services in Mexico and Central American countries to strengthen sanitary control measures in the region.