POLOKWANE – The Cordylobia anthropophaga, also known as the mango fly or tumbu fly, is a specie of fly that live in warm, humid conditions.
After cases of the mango fly were reported in Johannesburg recently, Review asked local vets and doctors if any cases were reported in Polokwane.
Read more: A case of mango fly confirmed in Fourways
According to Dr, Nelene Sloet, a veterinarian at Wolkberg Dierekliniek, they’ve had quite a few cases where dogs were infected with the worms.
“It will form a little bump and when you rub over it, you will see it is a hole. Sometimes it will be dry and other times it will be slimy,” she explains.
She further explained that you, as an owner, can press the skin until the worm comes out, but that you should be very careful not to let the worm pop.
“We usually do not give antibiotics and the animals do experience pain when the worm is inside as well as when it is being taken out.”
Dr. Nadia Krige, from the Molly Hawken Animal Clinic, also confirmed that they’ve had a few cases that they had to treat and Dr. Jan Villjoen from Pietersburg Dierekliniek said they also treated some cases.
Medical doctors in the city also confirmed cases where patients were infected and explained that as a preventative method, they subscribe antibiotics to those affected.
“It is very gross to take it out,” a local doctor told Review.
The fly will lay its eggs on clothing and blankets that hang on the washing line to dry. When the material comes in contact with a warm-blooded host, it will burrow into the skin and grow until they are big enough to fall onto the ground.
To prevent this, washing should be ironed or tumble dried to kill all the eggs and children should wear shoes while playing outside and refrain from playing in soil that is damp.
