Ballykelly Bites: Investigation underway

An investigation to uncover what is causing mysterious bug bites in a county Londonderry village is underway.

Ballykelly residents have taken to social media to outline their frustrations and concerns about the itchy, red spots and rashes.

Many have called the bites “unbearable” and “torturous” with some homeowners saying they can’t conduct daily tasks, like taking their bins out without being bitten.

Causeway Coast and Glens Council has launched an investigation with an initial assessment indicating the insects are mosquitoes.

Council has said the mosquitoes are common to the UK and are not known to transmit disease.

Sinead moved from Derry six years ago to the village and has dealt with the bugs each year.

However, she says this year her family has been “plagued with bites.”

She said: “They've been, the whole time I've lived here, we've been plagued with bites, and it has been really difficult at times.

“They're definitely worse now, and I think, especially this year in particular, it's to the point you just cannot go outside. It's unbearable, and so you're getting no use from your garden, or the kids can't go out to play. We are housebound because of it, it's so bad of an infestation.”

Many residents have shared pictures of their legs, arms and other body parts covered with painful looking red welts and rashes.

Sinead said she has even been bitten on her face which has caused itching and swelling.

She added: “If you were outside at all, even say half an hour outside, you're going to be covered, legs, arms, everywhere. I've had them on my face this year, but they swell up so badly, and they itch so badly. And it's one thing an adult will know and understand, try not to itch, and use all the creams, but to tell a young child who's covered in bites not to do that."

Sinead said that her whole family including her sons have been bitten several times and the advice they have received has not helped.

She said: “It's affecting sleep and everything, and your lack of sleep from the sting and the itch all night, means that your child or you are getting up to go to work and you are absolutely exhausted. It's affecting day-to-day life as well, and they swell up and they do get infected.

“They're biting you through jeans, thick clothing, so it's not just if you wear long clothing, they're biting you through the clothing as well, and it's quite a sore bite when it happens, and then obviously the after effect.

“Even just nipping to the bin is a problem but you can see them the minute you go out the door in the morning, all day, and again, inside the house as well. So we'd just be asking and begging for help that children especially can go outside, and enjoy their time outside with their friends, and not live the way that they are, which is being absolutely bitten and eaten alive with mosquitoes, which is disturbing their sleep, disturbing their school lives, and it's just unbearable.”

The Public Health Agency has said Insect bites or stings are not usually serious and get better in a few days.

However, the PHA in a statement said sometimes bites can become infected or occasionally cause a serious allergic reaction.

Bites from some insects can also cause illnesses, such as Lyme disease from ticks, scabies from mites, and malaria from mosquitoes but only in certain parts of the world.

Local mosquitoes whilst causing nuisance and annoyance do not carry diseases that would put the public at risk, says the PHA.

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