Bites

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
23/09/2007 07:38

Hi just got back from bogaz late last night had a wonderful time but for one thing [ or about 2 hundred should i say] without no word of a lie i am covered in what i thought was mosquito bites anti histamine cream not effective .but on reflection i have never had them there before.and so very many of them' my husband also has them plus 2 other couples also on our site [othello villas ].can somebody shed some light on the matter i travel to africa regularly and have had a few bites but nothing on this scale and not so painful. what are they???????? hope someone can help!!

kind regards simbas

Perry


Joined: 27/01/2007
Posts: 413

Message Posted:
23/09/2007 10:20

I got attacked last year at this time. Someone told me they are Sandflies (much smaller than mosquitos). This year we tried taking Vitamin B1 tablets and garlic capsules. - Not one bite

lovelife


Joined: 07/07/2007
Posts: 231

Message Posted:
23/09/2007 11:17

Vit B1 as well as Marmite(yuk) as Marmite has vit B in it

Did not kinow about garlic though casules though, will give it a try



My hub also swears by rum! (mixed with coke) as he worked with a man who had spent time in Africa and all the ex pats who lived there drank rum as the mozzies do not like it apparently.

lovelife


Joined: 07/07/2007
Posts: 231

Message Posted:
23/09/2007 11:21

PS

Has to be dark rum though

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
23/09/2007 11:28

Hi Perry thanks for info, i just couldnt believe the amount of bites we recieved. we were hoping to take our new granddaughter next month ,but when do you think would be a safe time ? and how long before travel do you start taking vit b and garlic caps ?

many thanks simbas

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
23/09/2007 12:19

Hi lovelife

I like the idea of the rum and coke.Alas we would have to be drinking it fom morning till night [ not a problem for me, hey im on holiday !, someone else could do the drivingfor a change and i would have a perfectly legitimate excuse. i think thats a brilliant idea ]

regards simbas

herindoors


Joined: 13/01/2007
Posts: 138

Message Posted:
23/09/2007 15:22

Hi Simbas, Usually I get bitten wherever I am in the world. I seem to attract anything that bites! BUT since I have been using Avons Skin so soft I have not been ;bitten for years! I use the body lotion or shower gel either are good. Give it a try, smells ok too. Hope this helps.

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
23/09/2007 15:50

Hi herindoors, thank-you i most certainly will try it, but it is so strange i never usually get bitten and i go to africia mostly twice a year and i never have a problem so to get it cyprus was a surprise

kind regards simbas

JamesB


Joined: 07/02/2007
Posts: 450

Message Posted:
23/09/2007 21:46

I was in Catalkoy a couple of weeks ago, when I got home I noticed I was covered in bites, about 40-50. Very itchy with almost a blister type head. does this sound like the sandflies?



Cheers

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
23/09/2007 22:15

hi jamesb it most certainly but does count yourself lucky i had over two hundred im still counting i found sudocreme the most effective antihistamine was useless on me regards simbas

JamesB


Joined: 07/02/2007
Posts: 450

Message Posted:
23/09/2007 22:25

At least I know what they are, I fully sympathise, itchy little buggers. I even thought it was chicken pox, but mainly on my torso. I think everyone on the board should be aware of these. When they are around and how to avoid them!

Good luck with the itching Simba.

Jamesb.

dylansgranny


Joined: 28/12/2006
Posts: 67

Message Posted:
24/09/2007 14:31

Hi Simba



Beware if you get sandfly fever it knocks you for six. You ache like flu headaches like you would never believe, (I don't get headaches) and you sleep for days. My husband had it and it affected his stomach did not leave the loo for a week - tried Imodium and Aran, would not wish it on anyone. Have had it twice in Spring the second time not so bad.

Susie


Joined: 06/06/2007
Posts: 87

Message Posted:
24/09/2007 16:05

Sept 6th - 17th Girne area i got lots of bites on my arms, definitely not mosquitos as i know about them from experience. These were REALLY itchy

i thought they might be sandflies (know nothing about them but just heard people talk about them)

I Also thought i may have been too close to a friendly cat at the LA beach area!

tarry123


Joined: 29/08/2007
Posts: 14

Message Posted:
24/09/2007 16:17

Normally when Sandflies bite you can feel it and the itching usually wears off after an hour or two. In areas where there is more building work or excavation of the earth you will find more sandflies as this is where they generally come from. Get some Vape anti bite spray works very well.

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
24/09/2007 16:38

Hi tarry123

There is still building going on where our villa is, but i havent had them before , the itching is still quite bad strange!!!!!!!!

Hi dylansgranny thanks for advice will certainly watch for signs and symptoms but ok so far , How long after recieving the bites does the onset of fever start ?

regards simbas

cypriot


Joined: 17/04/2007
Posts: 35

Message Posted:
24/09/2007 18:25

Hi simbas

What can I say. You must have a lovely skin maybe , thats why they all come to you.lol.. Did you try those anti-insect candles??? Not sure how effective in Cyprus. Good luck for next time.

davidoff


Joined: 21/04/2007
Posts: 438

Message Posted:
25/09/2007 01:00

Hi all,



When I went to cyprus I was told about these and that beware at night especially as thats when they attack the most!!

Ive been told that if you sit outside wear long sleeves long trousers and light a candle!!



Mossies are only attracted to sweet blood- so the sweeter you are the safer youll be!!

Not sure about if the same applies to sand flies or not??



I also went during a rainy week so thats why I probably never got any bites??



See ya D

davidoff


Joined: 21/04/2007
Posts: 438

Message Posted:
25/09/2007 01:03

SORRY TYPO ERROR



"Mossies are only attracted to sweet blood- so the sweeter you are the safer youll be!! "



MEANT TO SAY "THE LESS SWEETER YOU ARETHE SAFER YOULL BE"



See ya D

kyreniachap



Joined: 16/12/2006
Posts: 56

Message Posted:
25/09/2007 13:07

Hate to say it, seems a Mediterranean-wide problem this summer! Sister just returned from Corfu with plenty of usual sized itchy mosquito bites. She invested in repellent body sprays, anti-insect sun cream and even a citronella candle for the daytime, with limited effect, unfortunately. The only thing that really worked for the night time were plug-in mosquito 'machines'. These are the type that heat small repellent-soaked pads (called mats) or small bottles of repellent. Plug one in the room where you sleep BEFORE you go to bed, then close windows and put on the air con overnight. Many of these repellent dispensers should be unplugged while you sleep, as they are not suitable for use in unventilated areas - check the package very carefully for details for use. Anti-histamine tablets can be taken to reduce the itching, but as usual, consult your doctor or a pharmacist if symptoms persist.

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
25/09/2007 16:58

Hi kyreniachap

These little blighters are not mozzies they are far too small we had the air conditioner on used a deet spray and antihistamines didnt work on me or my husband.and they are still itching us although not as bad now.now this might be a coincidence but i slept from 8-30pm till 7-30 am i usually only sleep for 5-6hrs max a night i have a terrible headache and feel generally unwell.dylansgranny suggested they could be sand flies and i reckon she might be right because i now have some of the symptoms she stated as i say it might just be coincidence but i shall moniter the situation and have a blood test to diagnose if symptoms persist.

kind regards simbas

JamesB


Joined: 07/02/2007
Posts: 450

Message Posted:
29/09/2007 16:00

Are the insect mesh screens over the window effective against sandflies, they must be small, I never saw the little buggers coming!!!!!

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
29/09/2007 16:24

ive been back a week now and i have still got the bites but what is strange now is, they dont itch in the day but dont they make up for it at night!!!!!!! in answer to your question i really dont know

kind regards simbas

Perry


Joined: 27/01/2007
Posts: 413

Message Posted:
29/09/2007 17:05

Hi Simbas - I would bet they are Sandflies. In florida they call them 'no see 'ems' because they are tiny - but their bites are far from it. I understand they are common in Cyprus during the summer months. But - as I said before, Vitamin B1 and Garlic caps really stop them - We were not bitten at all in August - unlike our poor neighbours ! I usually am Mozzie food so I did have a combination of the tablets, Autan and the plug in at night - but it did the trick !

Going back to our villa in 3 weeks so will start taking the pills again soon !

Best wishes.

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
29/09/2007 18:00

Hi Perry i will certainly heed your words of wisdom and plan my attack on them with millitary precision before i go next month thanks perry .but if you do get bit i can recommend sudocreme it is an antiseptic and contains an anaesthetic property.good luck

kind regards simbas

pilgrim



Joined: 11/05/2007
Posts: 1404

Message Posted:
29/09/2007 18:05

Simbas, When you going in October perhaps we could meet, were there 14-22

regards

p

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
29/09/2007 18:29

Hi pilgrim, we will be there 27oct-3rd nov.so we will have missed you by 5 days, we go quite regularly so maybe in the future we will.where is your property in nc ?

kind regards simbas

CLOUD9


Joined: 29/04/2007
Posts: 10

Message Posted:
30/09/2007 19:31

thank you so much for the info relating to Sand Fly fever, we came back from Cyprus on the 20th September and my partner slept the entire flight through and kept falling asleep with a high tempreture, he was off his feet for a week with all the symptoms mentioned above.



He had been badly bitten one night, little red tiny bites that made him look like a dart board, they itched a bit but nothing like a mozzie bite, we laughed it off as I said he must be tastier then me as I only received about 10 bites to my elbows!! odd I know. After that we used insect repellant and an insecticide as we found them in our apartment, I think they come in day or night, we have got some building work being done to the side of us so may be they were attracted to that, plus we are in Lapta and there is alot of water running here and there.



It was a relief in someway to know what was making him ill. Next visit we are definitely on the vitamin and garlic diet with a few rums thrown in for good measure, do you think it is the rum or the coke the little sods don't like?

lovelife


Joined: 07/07/2007
Posts: 231

Message Posted:
30/09/2007 20:13

Its the dark rum mozzies do not like, I do not know whether it has the same effect on sand flies though, no harm in giving it a try!



We are out 7th -17th Oct if anyone wanted to meet up for a drink or meal.

pilgrim



Joined: 11/05/2007
Posts: 1404

Message Posted:
30/09/2007 23:13

Hi Simbas were in Bahcelar near Bogas, we to come about 6 times a year , I'll post again when I know dates of next visit.

regards

p

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
15/07/2008 15:48

hi hope this helps

simbas

fire starter


Joined: 19/06/2008
Posts: 3401

Message Posted:
17/07/2008 10:36

a few years ago the goverment paid people in the villages to spray. this funding stopped and it is now up to the local muktar to get the spraying done.

SAFFI


Joined: 01/07/2008
Posts: 342

Message Posted:
17/07/2008 16:00

Please could any one reccomend how long before you go away should you start to take the vitamin B1 and garlic capsules



many thanks

dw1973


Joined: 04/06/2008
Posts: 10

Message Posted:
17/07/2008 21:25

Will be buying some B1 and garlic tomorrow...always seem to get bitten :(

Perry


Joined: 27/01/2007
Posts: 413

Message Posted:
17/07/2008 21:29

Saffi, You should really start taking them 1 week before you leave.

SAFFI


Joined: 01/07/2008
Posts: 342

Message Posted:
17/07/2008 21:45

Thankyou for that info Perry, will definatley give it ago

newscoop


Joined: 23/12/2007
Posts: 2197

Message Posted:
18/07/2008 00:38

Sandfly fever is endemic to the middle east. Incubation period is 3-7 days. Symptoms; fever, headaches, chills, sweats, shivering, flu like symptoms,muscle/joint pains, flushing, bloodshot eyes. Similar to west nile fever but never fatal. can be treated by bed rest, medications, fluid replacement. (saline) Most common cause is proximity to beaches or animals ie sheep and goats. Apparently the little buggars are partial to their droppings. Reaction depends on victims general health; with some it`s a very uncomfortable 24 hours followed by a lethargic 2-3 days, if you are unlucky it could be 7-10 days. Do not confuse sandfly fever with other probs ie food poisoning/sunstroke/migraine, if you get this fever believe me you`ll know all about it. good luck.

andieb


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 14

Message Posted:
18/07/2008 07:26

Went to Turkey a few weeks ago, felt really ill for four days out of the seven we were there with the symptoms you've been describing for sandfly fever, it was awful couldn't leave the apartment (Hubby had to go out for his daily dose of Efes on his own) don't know how I managed the long haul home. Decided to take another holiday as that one was ruined thought we'd try north Cyprus this time, hope to goodness the little blighters don't get me again (that would be my luck). Took Vitamin B1 before we went and all the other normal mossie precautions, any other suggestions for keeping these damn sandflies away from me this time?

Perry


Joined: 27/01/2007
Posts: 413

Message Posted:
18/07/2008 11:41

It is a combination of Garlic Caps and Vitamin B1 that does it. Start taking them 2 weeks before you leave. Once there, use electric plug ins in your villa / apartment, spray on Autan at night, and keep the fans going. Sounds a lot I know but it really does work (and its well worth it - I was also a sufferer before !)

Chick-a-Dee


Joined: 16/06/2008
Posts: 342

Message Posted:
18/07/2008 12:44

Hi Perry



Do Fly screens / mosiquito nets ... stop sandfly???

sissy


Joined: 29/03/2008
Posts: 197

Message Posted:
18/07/2008 12:52

we were in cyprus few weeks ago and we took B1 tabs couple of weeks before we went my hubby was still bit all over. I think we will have to try the combinatiion of B1 and garlic. Does anyone know will the odourless garlic work. What dosage of both whould we take.

jackeen


Joined: 25/06/2008
Posts: 222

Message Posted:
18/07/2008 13:02

Use fresh garlic, smear all over your bodies, I dont think anyone will want to come near do you? Sorry its my birthday and I'm feeling a bit giddy today.

Perry


Joined: 27/01/2007
Posts: 413

Message Posted:
18/07/2008 17:45

Sissy - take 1 garlic capsule and 1 vitamin B tablet per day and it does the trick ! Don't know about fly screens - we dont have them and we are OK with the other weapons !

sissy


Joined: 29/03/2008
Posts: 197

Message Posted:
19/07/2008 20:14

jackeen, tried rubbing fresh garlic all over my body, but it didnt work.



I shall try the vitamin B tablet and garlic together as Perry suggested.

Thanks