Parasites infesting the breast from new bras-Fiction!

Parasites Infesting the Breast-Truth! & Fiction!

Summary of the eRumor: This one is accompanied by both a photograph and a video of what is said to be parasites infesting a woman's breast and creating a grotesque site. The story warns that women should be sure and wash a new bra to make sure any parasites have been eliminated. It also recommends ironing underwear for the same reason. It tells the story of an anthropologist named Susan McKinley who returned from a trip to South America with a rash that evolved into a worm-infested breast.

The Truth: We've not found anything to substantiate the Susan McKinley story or the photograph of the alleged larvae in a female breast. There is no alarm being spread by doctors about getting worms from new and unwashed bras. The picture accompanying the eRumor is a fabrication. It combines a picture of a woman's breast with a picture of what has been identified as flower seeds. A flower expert suggested to TruthOrFiction.com that it was the pod of a water lotus. The video that comes with some versions of the eRumor, however, is real but has nothing to do with either the story told in the eRumor or the photograph. The eRumor circulated for more than two years before the video started appearing attached to it. The video shows a close-up of a medical worker using tweezers to remove worms from a woman's breast. It is from a case reported from Africa in which Nigerian woman has what is called "cutaneous myiasis" of the breast due to an infestation by the larva of the Tumbu fly. The medical report says it is the only reported instance of the infestation so there is no need for spreading an alarm. It is interesting, if not coincidental, to note that the woman who had the infestation was described as spreading her washed clothes outside for drying and not ironing them before wearing them. The eRumor makes reference to that as well and it brings up the question of whether the warning was initiated by someone who knew of the lone case. Some more recent versions of the story also include pictures of a couple of white worms that it says are the type that are infesting the breast. As is clear on the picture, however, it was taken by Michael Bohne of the U.S. Forestry service and is of the larva of the Asian longhorned beetle. It has nothing to do with any of the other stories. Updated 6/13/06

A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:
I wanted to forward this enlightening information to all of you. (Men tell wives, mothers, sisters, cousins etc) This is very graphic and squeamish. Very difficult for me to handle (turned my stomach) May cause nauseous stomach or a churning woozy feeling. Please pass on if you can. Video is very graphic.... Subject: Wash new bras (Warning) HERE ARE THE PICTURES. YOU ASKED FOR THEM. LOOK AT BOTH ATTACHMENTS - 1 IS A PICTURE THE OTHER IS A VIDEO. ALL , PLEASE WASH ALL BRAS, UNDERWEAR WHEN YOU BUY BEFORE WEARING THEM. WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT PARASITE IS IN OUR CLOTHES WHEN WE BUY THEM. FORWARD TO EVERYBODY YOU KNOW. LET ME FORE WARN YOU THIS IS SO SQUEAMISH, I FEEL LIKE SOMETHING IS CRAWLING ALL OVER ME EVEN AS I SEND THIS TO YOU. BE AWARE. IT IS SO GROTESQUE. PLEASE WASH YOUR UNDERWEAR BEFORE WEARING. PREFERABLY IN BOILING HOT WATER. This is not for the weak, I have never seen anything like this. Read the article first before looking at the picture and film. This looks horrible. Oh my God!!!!!!! Ladies this could happen to you and Guys this could happen to your wife, girlfriend, partner so please BEWARE, and also warn others. It has been reported that this is happening in Zimbabwe as well, please make sure you iron your under garments before you wear them and make sure that your clothes are ironed when they are dry and not damp. The picture is horrible, but I felt that I should share with you. After anthropologist Susan McKinley came back home from an expedition in South America, she noticed a very strange rash on her left breast. Nobody knew what it was and she quickly dismissed it believing that the holes would leave in time. Upon her return she decided to see a doctor after she started developing intense pains. The doctor, not knowing the exact severity of the disease, gave her antibiotics and special creams. As time lapsed the pain did not subside and her left breast became more inflamed and started to bleed. She decided to bandage her sores however as Susan's pain grew more intense she decided to seek help from a more certified doctor. Dr. Lynch could not diagnose the infection and told Susan to seek the aid of one of his colleagues who specialized in dermatology whom was sadly on vacation. She waited for two weeks and finally was able to react the dermatologist. Sadly, a life changing event was about to unfold during her appointment. To Miss McKinley's surprise, after she removed the bandages, they found larva- (insects the wingless, immature worm-shaped form of many insects that develops into a pupa or chrysalis before becoming an adult insect) growing and squirming within the pores and sores of her breast. Sometimes these wicked creatures would all together simultaneously move around into different crevices. What she didn't know was that the holes were in fact, deeper than she had originally thought for these larvae were feeding off the fat, tissue, and even milk canals of her bosom.