The administration in eastern Assam’s Sivasagar district has sought an entomological study on ‘alien’ flies that have been on a biting spree for a fortnight now.
The fly, presumed to belong to an unidentified non-native species, is distinguished from its common cousin by its black body and pitch-black stripes on the wings.
“Reports of attacks by this different-looking fly have come villages in the Dikhowmukh. People have complained of skin irritation and swelling but there is no health hazard as such,” Nawab Alazhar Ali, Sivasagar district’s deputy commissioner in-charge, said.
The flies, locals said, appeared from nowhere about 15 days ago. People panicked when the insects, unlike common houseflies, began biting humans and livestock.
Mr. Ali said the Regional Medical Research Centre at Lahowal in Dibrugarh district was asked to take samples for an entomological study. A team of doctors was sent to the affected area on Tuesday after entomologists from the research centre collected samples on Monday.
Ripun Borpuzari, the district’s joint director health, who led a medical team said there was no reason to panic. “Simple medication is helping treat the itching and skin swelling. The problem is localised but we have ordered spraying of anti-mosquito repellent to prevent the flies from spreading to other areas,” he told The Hindu.
Mr. Borpuzari said insect experts in the agriculture deparment have also been asked to study the fly and find out whether it is related to the African black fly that causes sleeping sickness.
Health officials did not rule out the possibility of climate change and other ecological factors leading to morphological changes or mutation in flies found in the region.
