A Glasgow mum has been left with painful bites she believes could be from black flies she accidentally brought back from her holiday.
Denise Kelly fears the Spanish black flies could have come back in her luggage from Benidorm. The 42-year-old mum was bitten on the last night of her holiday and fell ill on the plane home.
She drove to the nearest hospital after landing in Newcastle on Sunday but was told the bites didn't look infected. When she got home to Glasgow, she noticed flies in her home after unpacking and believes they must have multiplied in her luggage.
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The blood-sucking bugs are known to leave painful bites that can blister and last up to a month.
She told the Daily Record: "I had wee red bites on holiday but on our last night I felt a sore pain in my leg and then later on my other leg. On the flight home I felt really sick and had diarrhoea.
"When we landed in Newcastle, I picked up my car but my legs were throbbing and the bites were swelling up. I was checked over at Hexham hospital but the bites didn't look infected so I drove home to Glasgow.
"When I got home I ended up having to go to hospital as the pain was worse. I was prescribed antibiotics and I came home to unpack my case."
She added: "I was sitting on the couch and I saw something quickly fly past me, then I had another bite. I noticed more of them and started to look online for my symptoms.
"I found a warning for tourists about Spanish black flies and realised they were everywhere in the house. They don't bite you like a mosquito, they gnaw on your skin."
In May, a warning was issued to British tourists planning to travel to Spain regarding the black flies. The insects, which can grow up to 6mm, don't quickly nip but bite in the form of a saw and can generate a significant wound, sometimes leading to infection.
They are now living with a family friend until the housing association is able to fumigate the property. Denise is currently on antibiotics, painkillers and anti-inflammatory medication to treat the blistering bites.
She says the stressful situation has left her unable to sleep.
Denise added : "I haven't slept for two nights as I was just terrified. They are so horrible.
"My daughter is also partially sighted and my son has ADHD so we have all been really stressed out at this and having to leave the house. The bites can take up to four weeks to heal and my leg is in absolute agony. Even when I'm walking the pressure can make it worse.
"I don't know how they could have gotten into my luggage. I brought some toys back for the kids and they had water in them.
"It was eggs that 'hatched in water'. I think the flies could have laid eggs inside it. We were all terrified."
Expert Jorge Galván, the general director of ANECPLA, the environmental health association, said the bites could lead to severe infection and even hospitalisation. He told the Record he thinks was possible insect eggs could have travelled back in a toy Denise brought home in her suitcase and hatched when she placed this in water.
Wheatley Homes planned to fumigate the property on Wednesday after the issue was reported on Monday morning.
A Wheatley Homes Glasgow spokesperson said: “The tenant only got in touch yesterday to tell us about these issues. We asked our specialist pest control contractor to make this a priority.
"They carried out a full inspection this afternoon and will return tomorrow to complete the treatment. We understand this is a difficult situation for the family and we’ll continue to keep in close contact and do everything we can to help.”
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