Barefoot beach walk leaves couple with flesh-eating parasite

Barefoot beach walk leaves couple with flesh-eating parasite
By Hannah Edensor


Anyone reading with a foot phobia, close this article now. Repeat, close now.

Ok, now that the warnings are out of the way, let’s get stuck into the nasty stuff.

A Canadian couple who recently visited the Dominican Republic has returned with a very regrettable souvenier.

And no, we’re not talking about some impossible-to-detangle hair braids.

After going for a barefoot walk along the sand, the couple realised both their feet had become incredibly itchy.

Katie Stephens, 22, and her boyfriend Eddie Zytner, 25, believed they had contracted some nasty beach lice.

However, after returning to their home in Ontario, they quickly realised these were no sand flies.

Zytner’s feet had become swollen and small bumps had begun appearing near his toes and at the top of his feet.

‘Deformed’: Mr Zytner’s left foot and Ms Stephens’ right foot.

Posting on Facebook, Stephens said her and Zytner “simply thought it was just bug bites and it became worse as each day passed”.

At first tricky to diagnose, doctors in Canada soon realised that the infection was from a parasitic virus similar to that of a previous patient who had recently returned from Thailand.

The couple were prescribed a medicine so potent it is currently unavailable in Canada, forcing Stepehen’s mum to drive to Detroit to pick up their prescription.

Speaking to CTV News, Zytner said: “We want to make it known to more doctors what it is, what to look for and stuff because it took us a few trips to the hospital to find out what it was.”

Stephens posted this to her Facebook page to warn others of the parasite:
foot

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

    Latest comments

    1. Chem trails that is,even my vegetables are affected,plenty flowers no fruiting,or perfectly healthy plant just wilts down and dies,fusarium solani that is. With compliments of U.N. for N.W.O.agenda or gender 21.We responsible breeders are punished same way like third country irresponsible breeders who breed like aphids.AND THE BEAUTY OF IT IS WE ARE PAYING FOR IT.In Louis Armstrong lyrics,what a wonderful world.Shlomo leave my comment alone.

dominican republic feet foot parasite

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