Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology: 100 students get infected by Nairobi flies

As many as 100 students of Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology engineering college have been found infected by Nairobi flies.

Nairobi flies, a species of rove beetles native to East Africa, have been spotted in Sikkim and around 100 students of Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology (SMIT) are found to be infected with the flies.

As per reports, these students have contracted infections after coming in contact with the Nairobi flies at Majhitar in Manipal, Sikkim and infections caused by the Nairobi flies are spreading in and around the institute campus like wildfire, as reported by North East Now.

“’ These flies do not bite. But, one should not touch the fly if it lands on the body. On touching, it releases harmful acid-like substances,” a Sikkim health department official said.  “It should just be gently blown away. If it sits on hands, after blowing it, hands should be washed with soap,” added the official. One of the infected students of SMIT reportedly get his hand operated on after being affected by the infection.

About Nairobi fly infection

The Nairobi flies are called rode beetles and these eat pests and destroy crops. They belong to the beetle family and are saffron in colour. If squashed or squeezed, the toxic juice released is harmful. Nairobi flies contain a corrosive substance known as pederin, which can cause chemical burns if it comes into contact with skin. Because of these burns, the Nairobi fly is sometimes referred to as a “dragon bug”.

Their haemolymph contains pederin, a potent toxin that causes blistering and Paederus dermatitis, the toxin is released when the beetle is crushed against the skin.

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