Outbreaks of Toxic Feather Cater Threatens Londoners
The London Forest Commission, UK, warned of a toxic caterpillar outbreak that could lead to asthma attacks, vomiting, and skin rashes. BBC, Saturday (4/28/2018), larvae of the moth oaks are visible in the southeast of England and also London. The fur on the worm can cause fever, eye irritation, and sore throat. The forestry commission also issued a warning to people to touch the caterpillars. Caterpillars come out of the eggs in mid-April, and trees are now in treatment with biopesticides since 23 April. Tree maintenance will be performed in more than 600 locations.
"The handling program is expected to continue until late May or early June," said a spokesman for the London Forestry Commission. The outbreak of the toxic caterpillar has taken its toll to a severe illness. A clearing officer clearing the land was unaware of the throng of caterpillars on the oak tree. He admitted to suffering from severe symptoms of the disease, having come into contact with the species. "The first symptom was a rash on my stomach, I did not realize what was happening," he said. "The rash was getting worse and the left side of my face was also filled with rashes, and my left eye became sore and watery," he added.
According to him, the doctor confirmed that he had come into contact with the caterpillar and had to distance himself from the animal because of the more severe allergic reaction. The caterpillar releases its feathers as a defense mechanism or can also be carried away by the wind. The fur contains thaumetopein, a kind of irritating protein. "You can get skin irritation, and at worst can cause death," said Jason Dombroskie of Cornell University Insect Collection, as reported by The Sydney Morning Herald.
