SANFORD, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Department of Health and Human Resources are investigating how maggots ended up on a resident at a Sanford nursing home.
The incident happened Sunday at the Newton Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing. Officials say the resident is fine and the remaining residents have all been checked and are fine.
The fly larvae were discovered Sunday evening on an elderly resident during a regular check. This person had been checked earlier in the day, so all of the larvae were caught early. Medical officials were notified and DDHS was alerted the next day.
According to nursing home officials the resident that was involved is under doctor's orders to have their skin checked twice a day. The nurse, which discovered the larvae, removed it quickly and alerted medical staff. Officials then checked all of the center's remaining 73 residents and inspected the entire building. Members of the DHHS' licensing and regulatory division visited to the center Thursday as part of an investigation into the incident, which is routine procedure.
The center is affliliated with Goodall Hospital. CEO Patsy Aprile spoke to reporters this afternoon. She believes the discovery is isolated and caused by a stray fly that got into the building.
'I can tell you what was found, was something very small, very gelatinous, which indicates to us it was in the very, very early stages,' said Aprile.
Aprile says officials have taken steps to make sure the windows and doors at the nursing home are secure to keep out the flies.
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