2023-04-26 12:24:46
The temperatures of the last days, high and extreme for this time of the year, have unwanted effects on the population. One of them is the appearance of the black fly, an insect that colonizes mountain areas and riverbanks, a reason that has forced the Madrid City Council to act. The campaign has been brought forward compared to last year and the appropriate treatments have begun to be applied.
The black fly has spread in regions such as Madrid, Aragon or Murcia. It is not an invasive species, but its presence has increased. To alleviate its effects, public administrations have to act and apply treatments in the affected areas since this diptera can transmit diseases.
It is an insect about 6 millimeters in length and with a very painful bite -it has a saw-shaped mouth-, as indicated in an article from the Spanish Society of Emergency and Emergency Medicine. The effects on the skin such as hives or marks are also due to the fact that his saliva is very toxic.
What happens if you get bitten by the black fly?
At the moment, it does not constitute a health emergency in Europe that involves the transmission of diseases, according to this article. In our country, what does cause some people to be bitten by the black fly It is an allergic reaction whose wound usually lasts a week. The best repellent is DEET (Diethyltoluamide) at high concentrations or citriodiol and it is recommended not to walk along the riverbed to avoid being bitten.
In the event that it occurs, the Spanish Society of Emergency and Emergency Medicine points out that the wound must be cleaned with antiseptic, local cold applied, some soothing against bites and not scratching.
Diseases transmitted by the black fly
However, the black fly is the cause of diseases in sub-Saharan Africa, Brazil or Venezuela. The National Association of Environmental Health Companies warned last year that in order for it not to become a public health problem, it is necessary to “Put efforts into its prevention and control” and pointed out that due to the effects of climate change this situation could change.
This insect can transmit an infectious disease known as Oncocercosis known as ‘river blindness’. The WHO indicates that the symptoms are intense pruritus, disfiguring skin conditions and visual impairment, which can lead to permanent blindness.
The World Health Organization indicates that there are about 18 million people infected by onchocerosis and around 270,000 are blinded by its effects.
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