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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is investigating two cases of human myiasis in which the living tissues of two elderly women were infested by maggots and is urging members of the public to guard against the disease.
The first case involved an 85-year-old woman living in Sham Shui Po. She attended Caritas Medical Centre because of nose bleeding on November 23. She was found to have maggots in her nostril. She was transferred to Yan Chai Hospital on the same day and is now in a stable condition.
In the second case, a 94-yer-old woman, hospitalised in Ruttonjee & Tang Shiu Kin Hospital in Wan Chai, was found to have maggots inside her wounds in the mouth on November 26. She is now in a stable condition.
CHP's investigations revealed that both patients had no recent travel history.
There have been a total of 13 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 persons with larvae.
The larvae feed on the host's dead or living tissue, and may cause serious tissue damage, resulting in loss of function, injury to the skin, secondary invasion and death.
Members of the public, especially staff of elderly homes, are advised to take note of the following measures:
* 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 proofing measures, including installation of fly screening materials at human dwelling places, dressing of wounds and maintaining good ventilation;
* Observe good personal and environmental hygiene;
* Staff of elderly homes should ensure good environmental hygiene, be alert to residents developing symptoms of the disease and arrange prompt medical consultation for residents feeling unwell.
Ends/Thursday, November 30, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:35
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