I did my research and found pictures and a description that fits that gross thing that came out of my arm. At first my research was leading me in the direction of a bot fly - thankfully that was NOT it. That is one of the things Jason described. The African Tumbu Fly is along the same lines and probably similar to what he was talking about with his dog in Zambia. From what I learned my guess is we picked this up at Matema Beach. The climate isn't right in Mago or Mafinga. The tumbu fly lays its eggs on wet clothes or laundry and that is why in some areas they iron everything including underwear before they wear them. The little egg hatches and it waits for some warmth. As soon as you put the clothing on the little larvae quickly and painlessly burrows in the skin in less than a minute. There it feeds on the tissue for about 12 days before emerging and falling to the ground. Then it turns into a fly to repeat the dreaded cycle! The "head" of this thing is flat looking and it breaths through a hole in the skin. As soon as we put the wet charcoal on top of it, it couldn't breath and it tried to come out. So there you have it; African Tumbu Fly.
Have you ever heard the famous Josephine Cunnington-Edwards tell stories? As I was doing my little research I remembered a story she told of being in Africa and of her warning a new missionary mother to iron ALL her clean laundry - even the diapers. But ironing cloth doesn't make for nice fluffy diapers and so this new missionary mom refused with dire consequences. Her poor little babe had 40 or so ( and don't quote me on the number but it seems like it was a LOT!) of these putzi larva as I think she called them and that is the other name for it, and the child was very sick from it.
Someone has asked me to tell what a funza is and I keep forgetting, but here goes:
It's a flea that burrows into the toes or fingers around the nail and lays it's eggs there. If you don't get that egg sack out they will all hatch and lay their own eggs.... pretty soon the poor little African Children have very deformed fingers and toes! I will see if I can find a picture of the damage it can do to add to this post.
well, I am glad you found out what it was. And thank you for explaining a funza. I was expecting something a lot worse than that! (probably something along the lines of the bot fly).
Have a great Christmas
Untitled Comment
Posted by Jason on Saturday, December 20, 2008 at 07:23 - Link
So... Just as you think you have nothing to write about - Africa still follows you.
ewww
Posted by Sheri on Monday, December 22, 2008 at 07:03 - Link
Hey, you're back! And you brought home some souveniers! How lovely. That is really weird and I am so sorry that you have to deal with that wormy thing. Amazing what is out there! So glad you stopped by my blog. And sure hope you are not dealing with anymore of those things! Have a blessed Christams and enjoy the snow-we have so much it is stifling!
