The Burn Bug

Our first week in Cameroon, a missionary told us, "You better just get used to the bugs- they had their house here first!" It took a while, but I have finally stopped freaking out when ants are crawling on my legs, I don't swat at flies unless they are in my eyes, I am used to my legs looking like a connect the dot picture with all of the mosquito bites on them, and I can kill a two inch roach without a single gag. Just when I thought I could deal with any tiny little insect creature...

The "Burn Bug" or 'Nairobi Fly" got me.... or actually I got it.

The "Burn Bug" does not sting or bite humans, but if you kill it kill it and crush it against your skin it contains a toxin that will do this to you....

I didn't even know this little bugger existed! One morning I woke up with what I thought were scratches on my face and chest. After a day, they did not go away. Instead, they got worse! When a seasoned missionary saw them, she told me about my new little friends the "Burn Bug." I think what I did was swat it on my chest and then touch my face. The marks have been here since Wednesday. They look so much better now and feel much better too! The ones on my face are almost gone and I can't feel them, but the chest one feels like I burnt it with a curling iron and it ITCHES like crazy- but I cannot scratch because the skin is raw and oozing! There is really nothing to do for it other than creams and there is no long term complications othern than some unsightly "burns" for a couple of weeks. The Fulbe (Fulani) women often scar themselves as a sign of beauty- well now I have my own set of African beauty marks!