Health experts say that the number of dangerous flying insects in Spanish resorts is rapidly increasing and “very close to becoming a serious public health problem in the country.”
Black flies, which can send a person to hospital for up to a month, already found in Andalusia, Aragon, Catalonia, Madrid, Murcia and Valencia.
National Association of Environmental Companies Sounds the Alarm — if urgent action is not taken, the situation will get out of hand and can cause huge problems, because “the virulence of the bite of the black fly is much higher than that of other insects.”
Another problem is that the fly does not sting, but bites with saw-shaped jaws. As a result, a sufficiently deep wound is formed, and this can lead to very serious infections and allergic reactions. In about half of the cases, the victims require hospitalization.
The black fly bites, causing a tear in the skin tissue on the exposed parts of the body of its prey. The bite itself begins with the injection of a small dose of anesthetic, which allows the fly to go almost unnoticed — the victim does not feel anything.
One of the most dangerous consequences of a — transmission of the disease onchocerciasis, which can cause blindness. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 270,000 people around the world have become blind from this disease.
Medics continue: “Their saliva contains substances that usually cause severe allergy symptoms and severe pain in the area of the bite . Eventually, a scar of several centimeters develops, which often bleeds, is accompanied by severe itching and swelling, which can last up to a month. Under no circumstances should the skin be scratched, as this can lead to infection.
It is recommended to treat the bite with ice to reduce swelling, and a mild hormonal ointment.
If symptoms worsen and health should immediately consult a doctor.