SYLLABUS SECTION: GS III (ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY)
WHY IN THE NEWS?
Recently, around 100 students of Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology have reported skin infections after coming in contact with Nairobi flies.
THE SPECIES:
- Nairobi flies, also called Kenyan flies or dragon bugs, are beetle-like insects that belong to two species: Paederus eximius and Paederus sabaeus.
- They are orange and black in colour, and thrive in areas with high rainfall.
THE FLIES & HUMANS:
- Usually, the insects attack pests that consume crops and are beneficial for humans but at times, they come in contact with humans directly and cause harm.
- These flies do not bite, but if disturbed while sitting on any one’s skin, they release a potent acidic substance that causes burns
- This substance, pederin, can cause irritation, leading to lesions or unusual marks or colouring on the skin
- The skin begins to heal in a week or two, but some secondary infections can occur.
PREVIOUS OUTBREAKS:
- Major outbreaks have happened in Kenya and other parts of eastern Africa.
- Outside Africa, outbreaks have happened in India, Japan, Israel, and Paraguay in the past.
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SOURCE: INDIAN EXPRESS