Fatal sting: Man (31) dies after horsefly bite – doctors sound the alarm
Andrew (31) was bitten by a horsefly while working in the countryside. He initially ignored the bite, but then the bite cost him his life.
When 31-year-old Andrew Kane from Northumberland, UK, returned from working on a farm, he noticed a red spot on his elbow. He had been bitten by a horsefly . At first, he ignored the spot.
His mother, Rachel, finally urged him to go to the hospital, where he was given antibiotics. "He wasn't worried. He thought he would get better. But the hole in his arm never seemed to heal," Rachel told the Newcastle Chronicle .
Two weeks later, the father of a seven-year-old daughter collapsed while out at night. He was taken to Northumbria Emergency Care Hospital, where doctors determined he had developed sepsis following the horsefly bite on his elbow.
He fought for his life in the hospital for five weeks. They had every hope for him. But it came back with a vengeance, spread very quickly, and his organs began to fail, Rachel said. But Andrew lost the fight.
Doctors warn: Sepsis is the most severe form of infectious disease and can be triggered by more than just wound infections . It occurs when the body's immune system is no longer able to prevent the spread of a local infection and pathogens enter the bloodstream. Bacteria are the most common pathogens, followed by viral infections such as influenza and COVID-19, fungal infections, and malaria—but also horseflies.
- Lifestyle and reproduction: Horseflies are blood-sucking insects whose females require blood meals to develop and lay their eggs. They are generally very active flyers and can travel great distances to find hosts from which to feed.
- Painful bite : The bite of a horsefly is painful and can cause skin irritation in humans and animals. Horseflies use their sharp mouthparts to pierce their hosts' skin and suck blood.
- Habitat: These flies are commonly found in moist and warm environments, especially near bodies of water such as lakes and rivers. They are active during the warmer months and prefer areas where larger animals such as horses and cattle are found.
- Ecological importance : Although horseflies are often perceived as a nuisance, they play a role in the ecosystem. They serve as food for various bird species and some other insects, thus contributing to biodiversity.
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