Water drinking points in Paicho, Patiko and Palaro Sub Counties in Gulu district have been invaded by tsetse flies, a local leader has said.
The entomology office in Gulu, in response, has said that it is already aware of the tsetse fly attack and is working towards addressing the situation.
The flies are mostly found around water sources in Paicho, Patiko and Patiko sub counties.
Mr David Ngole, LCIII Chairperson for Palaro sub-county told Acholi Times in an interview that the invasion of the Tsetse flies is affecting farming.
Mr Ngole revealed that the flies invaded his sub county in May but drastically increased in numbers in July.
Tsetese flies cause sleeping sickness among humans and Nagana in cattle.
“These flies are very many now, they don’t fear human beings or animals and this is worrying for the health of our people. Since it’s a rainy season,” Mr Ngole said.
“The district Entomology department should look for alternatives of spraying other than the use of the traps,’’ he added.
Mr Alfonse Achaye, the District Entomologist said his department is already aware of the tsetse fly invasion in the sub counties of Patiko, Palaro and Paicho.
He identied the tsetse fly breeds that have invaded as Glosina Fuscipes Fuscipes which breeds during rainy season between May and August.
According to Mr Achaye, the district Entomology department between May and June, deployed 300 traps to catch the flies along the major rivers and streams in three sub counties.
He, however said the traps are proving ineffective in controlling as their deployment is slower than the rate of the tsetse invation.
“We are studying this invasion and treating it with caution. At the moment we haven’t got cases of sleeping sickness or trypanosomiasis in those areas. But should the population of the flies increase, spraying will be the best option,” Mr Achaye said.
About Tse Tse flies Tse Tse flies are large biting flies that inhabit much of mid-continental Africa. They live by feeding on the blood of vertebrate animals and are the primary African biological vectors of trypanosomes, which cause human sleeping sickness and animal trypanosomiasis, also known as nagana.
