Sign In
Learn bits
Health & Medicine
Mahesh

08/07/22 06:24 AM IST

NAIROBI FLIES

In News 
  • Around 100 students of an engineering college in East Sikkim have reported skin infections after coming in contact with Nairobi flies.
Nairobi Files 
  • Nairobi flies, also called Kenyan flies or dragon bugs, are small, 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, as has been witnessed in Sikkim in the past few weeks. Like most insects, the beetles are attracted by bright light.
  • Usually, the insects attack pests that consume crops and are beneficial for humans — but at times, they come in contact with humans directly are cause harm.
  • These flies do not bite, but if disturbed while sitting on anyone’s skin, they release a potent acidic substance that causes burns.
  • This substance is called pederin, and can cause irritation if it comes in contact with the skin, 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, especially if the victim scratches the irritated skin.
  • Nairobi flies is a species of insect native to East Africa. 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.
Source- Indian Express 

More Related Current Affairs View All

28 Aug

IADT-1

'Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully carried out its first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-1), a crucial milestone in the preparation for the countr

Read More

28 Aug

H-1B visa changes

'H-1B visa changes 2025: United States Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called the popular H-1B visa program a “scam”, saying that American businesses should be focuse

Read More

28 Aug

UGC’s Learning Outcomes-based Curriculum Framework

'Recently, the University Grants Commission (UGC) issued a public notice on its development of a draft Learning Outcomes-based Curriculum Framework (LOCF).' LOCF is intended to

Read More

India’s First Ai-Driven Magazine Generator

Generate Your Custom Current Affairs Magazine using our AI in just 3 steps