[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I think the author was careful not to say more than she knew. She said it may be the first such case in North America, and by limiting it to North America (meaning the U.S. and Canada, I presume) she may simply be indicating the limit of her research. It is a usefully qualitative rather then meaninglessly quantitative statement. I appreciate it when an author only says what she knows to be a fact.

[tdscpa]

limiting it to North America (meaning the U.S. and Canada, I presume)

North America extends much further south. Do a search. Most of Central America will be included in "North America". They include all or almost all of Central America, all the way to the equator.