Two cases of ophthalmomyiasis were reported in Mykolaiv: botfly larvae entered people's eyes
Timely assistance prevented corneal damage and loss of vision
In Mykolaiv, 2 cases of a rare parasitic eye infestation — ophthalmomyiasis — were recorded, which occurs after fly larvae enter a person’s eye.
Such cases were reported by specialists of the Mykolaiv Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention, who clarified that both patients received timely care and fully recovered, thereby averting severe consequences, including loss of vision.
The first episode occurred in the private sector of the Vodopiy neighborhood in Mykolaiv: the patient sought medical attention complaining of sudden irritation, pain and the sensation of a foreign body in the eye, and laboratory tests confirmed the presence of a fly larva of the species Oestrus ovis; during the epidemiological investigation it was found that goats — natural hosts of this parasite — were kept near the household.
The second case was recorded in a suburb of Mykolaiv, where the injured person felt a sudden blow to the eye, after which pronounced pain, tearing and severe discomfort occurred; analysis showed that a larva of the horse botfly Gasterophilus intestinalis had entered the eye, and horses were grazing near the incident site.
Entomologists emphasize that adult botflies do not bite people, but their live-bearing females can eject larvae during flight, which are capable of entering the eyes, nose or oral cavity of animals and, occasionally, humans.
Without prompt treatment, ophthalmomyiasis can cause inflammation of ocular structures, corneal damage, secondary bacterial infection, persistent vision deterioration and, in severe cases, partial or complete loss of vision.
Medical professionals urge that if, after being near pastures or animals, you experience sudden pain, tearing, or the sensation of a foreign body in the eye, seek medical help immediately and do not attempt to remove a possible larva yourself.
