Black flies infestation •Residents apply cooking oil, ointment as repellent
Residents of the black flies infested communities in the Greater Accra Region have adopted unusual methods to protect themselves.
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While some individuals cover their entire bodies with clothing, others apply cooking or vegetable oil, different ointments, lemon juice and mosquito repellent to their skin in an attempt to repel the insects.
Consequently, these items, including, clothing with long sleeves, trousers, long socks, and gloves, have become scarce in the affected communities.
The impact of the blackfly infestation has been so severe that during the day, residents mostly remain indoors. They believe the black flies are inactive after sunset, prompting them to venture out only at night.
The situation has also taken a toll on the education sector as some students facing the menace of these blood-sucking insects that leave blood stains on their victims remain at home.
Learning has become extremely challenging for the children.
The Mirror observed this when this reporter visited some of the affected communities in the La Nkwantanang-Madina municipality, located in the Greater Accra Region, on July 25 and 26.
The affected communities included Kponkpo, Borga Town, Teiman, Oyarifa, Abokobi, Ayi Mensah, Danfa, parts of Adenta and Peduasi.
Epicentre of infestation
The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) has confirmed that a fast-flowing water body at Okponkpo, known as Dakubi Stream, served as the breeding site for black fly larvae.
These larvae metamorphose into adult black flies which cause havoc in the communities.
The stream originates from the Akuapem Ridge between Oyarifa-Teiman and Abokobi and flows through various communities, ultimately ending in the Odaw River.
Despite the information given by the NMIMR, some residents believe that a tree in the forest was responsible for the presence of the harmful insects.
Residents' reaction
While some residents attribute the seasonal presence of black flies to the rainy season, others find themselves in constant battle with the insects due to their agricultural activities, which take them to areas where the black flies breed. They therefore resort to applying cooking oil to their skin to keep the insects at bay.
A resident and trader in the Kponkpo community, Sandra Okpoti Mensah, shared her struggle of protecting her children from blackfly bites with this reporter.
"I have three children and protecting them from these insects is no joke; they say mosquito repellents prevent the insects from biting us, but that is expensive so we have resorted to using cooking oil, and that seems to be working."
The blackflies
According to a staff of the Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit (EHSU) of LaNMMA, Joseph Quacoe, blackflies fed on the blood of mammals, including humans, livestock and pests.
“These insects can fly up to 20 miles and are responsible for transmitting river blindness or Onchocerciasis, especially when exposed to humans for one to two years”, he added.
Mr Quacoe described the black flies, also known as buffalo gnats, as looking like mosquitoes, approximately five to 15 millimetres in size, dark-coloured, relatively robust with distinctive arched thoracic region, large compound eyes, short antennae and fan-shaped wings.
For protection, the general public has been advised to wear clothing that covers their skin, such as long sleeves and trousers. Since black flies are attracted to dark-coloured clothing, sweat and sweet scents, wearing light-coloured clothes has been recommended.
The bites of black flies could cause pain, itching and severe allergic reactions.
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