The Centre for Health Protection has confirmed the year's third human myiasis case, involving a 69-year-old Sheung Shui man.

The elderly home resident was sent to North District Hospital on March 21 with heart failure. He was found to have maggots in a wound on his left foot yesterday and his condition is stable.

Hong Kong recorded 14 cases last year, 15 in 2006 and six in 2005.

Human myiasis is caused by parasitic maggots of flies which infest the superficial wounds and body orifices, such as the mouth, ear and nose, of debilitated people with larvae. The larvae feed on the host's dead or living tissue and can cause serious damage or even death. For prevention tips click here.