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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is investigating a case of human myiasis today (November 10) and urges people to guard against the disease.
The case involved a 75-year-old man living in Kwun Tong. He was found to have a bleeding gum wound with worms on November 6 and was admitted to United Christian Hospital on the same day. He is now in a stable condition.
The CHP's investigations revealed that he had no recent travel history.
There have been a total of 11 cases of human myiasis so far this year and all of them are classified as local cases. Six cases were reported in 2005, eight in 2004 and nine in 2003.
Human myiasis cases are caused by parasitic maggots of flies which infest the superficial wounds and body orifices (such as mouth, ear and nose) of debilitated people with larvae.
The larvae feed on the host's dead or living tissue, and may cause serious tissue damage, resulting in loss of condition, injury to the skin, secondary invasion and death.
People, especially staff of elderly homes, are advised to note the following:
* All wounds should be treated immediately. Wound fluids and blood are known to be attractive to some species of flies. To avoid myiasis infestation, wounds should be cleaned and dressed properly;
* Fly infestation could be avoided by installation of fly screens, dressing of wounds and maintaining good ventilation;
* Good personal and environmental hygiene should be observed;
* Staff of elderly homes should ensure good environmental hygiene, be alert to inmates developing symptoms of the disease and arrange for inmates feeling unwell to seek medical attention promptly.
Ends/Friday, November 10, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:43
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