An infestation of flesh-eating flies have been found in the mouth of an elderly Hong Kong woman who later died, health officials confirmed on Thursday.
Maggots of the parasite — called Chrysomya bezziana or screw-worm fly — were discovered after the 79-year-old developed symptoms of chills and bleeding from the mouth.
She was admitted to hospital in Tuen Mun, but died. The case is the third infestation of the fly in humans so far this year.
Health officials stressed that the woman’s death was unrelated, but urged staff at homes for the elderly to be vigilant in guarding against the parasite.
The parasite infests all mammals, usually in wounds and body orifices where it feeds on dead and living skin tissue, resulting in tissue damage, secondary invasion and sometimes death.
The elderly who are debilitated are most at risk. The two other cases this year involved a 78-year-old woman with an infestation in her mouth and a 50-year-old woman with larvae in a leg wound. Both recovered after treatment. — Sapa-DPA