The Centre for Health Protection is investigating the year's sixth case of human myiasis involving an 89-year-old woman resident of a Chai Wan elderly home.

She was sent to the Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital for an ear bleed on July 13 and maggots were found. She has been discharged.

Human myiasis cases are caused by parasitic fly maggots which infest superficial wounds and body orifices of debilitated people. There were 14 cases reported last year, 15 in 2006 and six in 2005. Click here for prevention measures.