this post was submitted on 03 Aug 2023
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I’ve heard of them; I don’t think they’re common in the UK these days after being near wiped-out fifty-odd years ago. Never encountered one myself.
Edit: quick check of the news suggests that they are back! Here’s a BBC Radio link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0fsd21z
Another Edit: turns out my other half has met people who’ve been bitten recently. Nasty nasty bite.
I'd never heard of them either, but I keep getting bites that seem to match with Blandford fly bite symptoms.
The odd thing is that noone else around me gets them too.
I've also seen they they seem to be on the rise recently, and I happen to be in one of the parts of the country that has suffered with them in the past.
If you’re sure it’s them, you must be near a breeding ground. Wonder what makes you in particular so susceptible? It’s like with midges - some people just get eaten alive.
Do bug/insect repellants work? Or covering up (maybe ok in the cool but likely unbearable in summer proper)?
Your local minor injuries unit may have some experience and advice to share maybe?
I'm not sure it's them at all to be honest. No one s exactly sure. All I know s they hurt more than any infected gnat bite I've had before!
DEET insect repellent is supposed to work. It's on the shopping list!
It turns out pretty much all insect bites are treated the same unless there's secondary infection; just leave t and take anti-histamines.