(Reuters) -The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday authorized emergency use of Elanco Animal Health's ​chewable tablet to treat the infestation of a parasite in cats ‌known as New World screwworm.

Shares of the company were up more than 3% in afternoon ‌trading.

The agency said it is the first time it has cleared a drug specifically for this use in cats and kittens. The authorization allows the drug, branded as Credelio CAT, to be used while U.S. ⁠health officials consider New ‌World screwworm a potential public health emergency.

The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly species whose larvae infest open wounds on ‍warm-blooded animals, including livestock and humans.

Most cats in the U.S. are at low risk of New World screwworm due to their geographic location, the ​agency said. Outdoor cats near the U.S.-Mexico border and ‌cats that have traveled to countries where the parasite is found are more likely to be exposed.

Credelio CAT will only be available with a prescription from a licensed veterinarian. The FDA said professional expertise is needed to watch for side effects and manage any problems that arise.

Cat owners should speak with ⁠their veterinarian about whether the treatment is suitable ​for their animal, the FDA said.

Credelio CAT ​was first approved by the FDA in 2019 to prevent fleas and ticks in cats and kittens.

The drug's active ingredient,‍ lotilaner, is ⁠part of a widely used class of drugs for parasites. While these products are considered safe for most cats, they have been ⁠linked in some cases to nervous system side effects such as tremors, unsteady movement ‌and seizures, the regulator said.

(Reporting by Padmanabhan Ananthan ‌in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)