A man in China lost his eyes after swatting a moth fly on his body with his bare hands.
Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) introduced the story of Mr. Wu, a resident of Shenzhen in southern Guangdong province, citing local Chinese media.
Recently, Wu swatted a moth fly that landed on his body with his hand. However, an hour later, his left eye suddenly became red, swollen, and painful.
Wu went to the hospital and was diagnosed with seasonal conjunctivitis and given medication. Unfortunately, his condition continued to worsen, and his vision deteriorated significantly.
Upon returning to the hospital, the doctor informed him that the infection could not be stopped with the medication he was taking, leading to severe ulcers in and around his eye. Ultimately, Wu had to undergo surgery to remove his left eye to prevent the bacteria from spreading to his brain.
The fly Wu swatted is commonly known as a moth fly. These insects typically inhabit damp areas, such as contaminated water or bathrooms. Due to the high level of bacteria, actions like swatting a moth fly with bare hands and then rubbing one’s eyes or touching wounds can lead to infections.
Experts advise that if a moth fly approaches the eye, it’s better to chase it away rather than swat it and wash the area where the insect landed with clean water or a saline solution.
In China, there have been instances where infections occurred after people caught moth flies with their bare hands. For example, in October 2018, a 97-year-old woman in Shandong Province reportedly caught a fly that landed on her wound. She later experienced severe pain in her left cheek due to a secondary infection
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