An Oregon woman has become the first human to have contracted a parasitic eye infection spread by flies, according to a report published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
The report, which was released Monday, says 26-year-old Abby Beckley had been bothered by an irritated eye for about a week before she took a closer look and noticed something strange... tiny worms. As she rubbed her finger against her eye, another small worm came out. She ended up pulling out 14 worms in all.
Doctors diagnosed her with Thelazia gulosa, which is a parasitic worm condition usually found in cattle and never before seen in humans. The worms feed on tears. Fortunately they do not burrow into the eyeball, so once they were removed, the woman was okay. Doctors believe she likely contracted the parasite while enjoying outdoor activities. (USA Today)