A woman in the UK has contracted a rare sexually transmitted infection that causes the genitals to erupt and rot.

All it takes to contract the bug – known as donovanosis – is skin-to-skin contact with someone with a bleeding, foul-smelling ulcer.

The ulcers then destroy tissue in the genitals, but the bug is extremely rare in the UK with only a handful of cases every year.

Lesions

Pharmacist Shamir Patel, from Chemist 4U, found out about the case from a Freedom of Information request.

Mr Patel told the Liverpool Echo: ‘Bacteria that cause the disease, known as klebsiella granulomatis, infect the skin around the genitals, groin or anal area and causes lesions and skin disintegration as the flesh effectively consumes itself.’

HIV

Speaking about treatment of donovanosis, he said: ‘Any delay could cause the flesh around the genitals to literally rot away.

‘This bacteria is also a risk factor in the transmission of HIV.’