What is Nairobi Fly?

Nairobi Fly also called Kenyan flies or dragon bugs have recently been reported to cause skin infections in some districts of north Bengal, neighbouring Sikkim and parts of Bhutan. Nairobi flies, native to East Africa, are growing at a rapid pace and can overwhelm new areas in search of breeding grounds and ample food supply. The topic becomes important for all the aspirants preparing for the IAS Exam

This topic is related to various issues in Current Affairs and also comes under GS Paper 3- Science and Technology. Furthermore, topics like Health, Disaster Management, and Government Organisations related to viruses and their consequences on society can be expected as potential questions in the UPSC Exam. 

Aspirants preparing for all Government Exam should be well aware of the topic to tackle such questions. 

About Nairobi Fly

Nairobi flies, also known as Kenyan flies or dragon bugs, are little beetle-like insects of two species: Paederus Eximius and Paederus Sabaeus. They are orange and black in colour and flourish in locations with considerable rainfall, such as Sikkim, East Bengal and Bhutan. The beetles are attracted by bright light, like most insects. The beetle of the Paederus genus, a native of East Africa, causes Paederus Dermatitis with burn sensations and blisters.

Learn more about Zoonotic Diseases in the linked article.

How do Nairobi Flies Affect Humans?

Normally, these beetles target pests that destroy crops and are beneficial to humans but occasionally, they come into direct contact with humans and inflict harm. These insects do not bite, according to health experts, but if disturbed while sitting on anyone’s skin, they produce a strong acidic material that causes burns.

This chemical, known as pederin, can cause skin irritation if it comes into contact with it, resulting in lesions or strange marks or colouring on the skin. In a week or two, the skin begins to recover, but secondary infections might emerge, especially if the person scratches the irritated skin. It is, however, not contagious.

Read about Nipah Virus, by visiting the linked article.

Outbreak of the Disease

Major outbreaks of this disease have occurred in Kenya and other regions of eastern Africa. According to the Associated Press, abnormally high rain in 1998 brought a significant number of insects into the region. Outside of Africa, outbreaks have already occurred in India, Japan, Israel, and Paraguay.

Read what is the Difference Between Dengue and Malaria, by visiting the linked article.

Way to protect oneself against Nairobi flies

Some common precautions that can be taken to avoid these beetles to cause any disease are:

• Sleeping under mosquito netting can be beneficial. 
• If a fly lands on a human, it should be gently brushed off and not disturbed or touched to limit the possibility of the chemical- pederin release.
• Wash the area where the flies are sitting with soap and water. 
• If they are squelched and end up leaving hazardous substances on the skin, it is critical that unwashed hands do not come into contact with any other part of the body, especially the eyes.

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Candidates can go through the relevant links for their exam preparation-