The Centre for Health Protection has confirmed this year's second local case of human myiasis, involving a 24-year-old man living in an Aberdeen rehabilitation centre with no recent travel history.

On April 8, institution staff found his right ear bleeding and he was admitted to Ruttonjee Hospital on the same day and discharged on April 13.

Human myiasis cases are caused by parasitic maggots which infest superficial wounds and body orifices such as the mouth, ear and nose of debilitated people.

The larvae feed on the host's dead or living tissue, and can cause serious damage. For more on human myiasis, click here.

In Hong Kong, 15 cases were reported last year, six in 2005, eight in 2004 and nine in 2003.