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DEL.ICIO.USSand fleas feast on Georgia troops
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Curtis Compton/AJC
A soldier treats his flea-bitten feet after Operation Scimitar.
If they gave out Purple Hearts for bug bites, just about all the soldiers involved in Operation Scimitar would be getting medals.
During a week in which the 48th Brigade Combat Team teamed with U.S. Marines and the Iraqi army to hunt insurgents south of Baghdad, sand fleas feasted on fair-skinned Georgia troops.
Ankles, necks and arms were favored delicacies for the microscopic bugs. They burrowed inside sweaty combat boots and soaked shirt collars and left trails of itchy red welts. Soldiers slathered themselves with insect repellent, but the fleas treated DEET like part of the buffet.
Most soldiers slept outside on cots or atop Humvees — the higher the better to get away from the bugs that live on the ground. But the soldiers were essentially camping in a landfill, and the sand flea residents loved the company. By the time the mission ended, it looked like a chicken pox or measles epidemic had broken out among the Georgians.
I started counting bug bites on one shirtless soldier but gave up when I got to 200 and was only half done.
“It’s the luck of the Irish,” the freckled soldier said. “I’m glad there’s something in this country that loves us. Too bad it’s fleas.”
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By jen
July 15, 2005 10:36 AM | Link to this
BLUESTAR OINTMENT!! Not sure what is used for originally, but will keep the fleas off! Send it to them by the case load!
By Kirk Vaniscak
July 15, 2005 11:25 AM | Link to this
When anyone one talks to the troops in Iraq let them know that skin so soft works the best with sandfleas. Parris Island is known for sandfleas, and that is what we used.
Good Luck
By Kristi
July 15, 2005 02:40 PM | Link to this
What can we include in care packages to ward off the sand fleas or to at least ease the itching of the bites. I saw a recent memo from the Defense Dept that said not to use flea collars which had previously been heavily used by most of the soldiers.
By Doug
July 15, 2005 04:10 PM | Link to this
I’ve used sulfur soap to ward off ticks and chiggers when hunting in GA with some success. The idea came from soldiers serving in Operation Desert Storm.
By H Andreae
July 15, 2005 04:18 PM | Link to this
What can we send the soldiers for sand fleas?
By J.G.
July 15, 2005 04:56 PM | Link to this
SKIN SO SOFT definitely works. Buy it from Avon in big bottles and sent it over. It is bath oil but repells the sand fleas.
By LT K.
July 16, 2005 09:55 AM | Link to this
Flea collars are definitely bad. They contain neurotoxins that will make troops sick. Don’t send them. Nothing works better on skin than 100% DEET, but there are problems with those products (melts plastic and some people are allergic). Avon Skin-So-Soft contains substances that ward off bugs (coumarin). Surf the net for non-toxic natural bug repellents. Some people say taking Vitamin B-1 daily wards off mosquitoes very well. Permethrin sprays treat clothing for superior protection (clothing only!). Here’s a link to a good article about substances that work against biting insects: Annals of Internal Medicine
By Randy
July 16, 2005 10:17 AM | Link to this
Has anyone considered what type of diseases these “sand fleas” carry.
We still have not figured out exactly what GWS (Gulf War Syndrome) is.
Our troops need to be home in Georgia.
By Robin Gordon
July 16, 2005 12:17 PM | Link to this
Hey guy’s I am gonna send ya’ll some awesome bug repellent it’s called Bens and it works awesome…If you know PFC Jeffrey Wilson From Bama, just ask him he has some for now until I can send more…Thank all of you so much for all that you do for here in the U.S.A.! We all love you up here in Bar Harbor Maine!! Come Home Safely Guy’s. LOVE Ya’ll Robin Gordon From Alabama :)
By Robin Gordon
July 16, 2005 12:21 PM | Link to this
I will send some flea collars to my boyfriend and he can give them to whom ever…LOVE ALWAYS Bamachik1978
Thank all of you for all you are and all that you do for this country…
GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU !!!
By Catherine
July 16, 2005 02:37 PM | Link to this
Sorry Guys! Keep up the good work and hurry home. God Bless Yoy All
By Susan W.
July 16, 2005 04:07 PM | Link to this
How do we send something to help? I’ll buy whatever will help our troops.. repellent, anti-itch cream, whatever!
By Alan
July 16, 2005 06:37 PM | Link to this
As a former Marine (Camp Pendleton) that worked on Parris Island training recruits I can testify to the effectivenss of Skin So Soft on Sand Fleas. The earlier post is also correct in pointing out Blue Star Ointment as a good remedy. These bites are more than a minor annoyance when they are in the large numbers reported. The government should be armoring those Humvees and providing whatever aide necessary to make those defending our freedom as comfortable as possible while in that difficult theater of operations.
By t
July 16, 2005 06:43 PM | Link to this
How about we just get them from over there!!!
By Ruth
July 16, 2005 07:30 PM | Link to this
To Randy…finally someone who thinks the same way I do!
By Andy
July 16, 2005 09:19 PM | Link to this
These nasty little buggers can carry “Black Water Fever” aka Leishmanasis in about 10% of them. http://www.cdc.gov/travel/diseases/leishmaniasis.htm
3M’s DEET lotion product (Available at REI) works great. I lived in the dirt of Iraq pre-AC days during the invasion and first year. I lived on a cot beside my hummer.
By Chris
July 16, 2005 09:25 PM | Link to this
I support the President and most definitley our troops But it is time for sorry elected officials to do what is right and send our troops what they need. At this point your are better off being in one of our fine prisons than being a soldier fighting for our country. Enough is enough! Give our troops what they need
By Scott
July 16, 2005 09:30 PM | Link to this
They’re not sand FLEAS. They’re sand FLIES - that’s what’s found on Parris Island and other regions with sandy soils. Sand fleas are found on almost all beaches near the water and are quite large. Sand flies are microscopic. See a picture at: Link: Sand Fly
Link: Sand Flea
By Alex in Dahlonega
July 25, 2005 10:35 PM | Link to this
Skin SO Soft by Avon worked wonders on Parris Island….
By Sean
July 26, 2005 08:07 PM | Link to this
I Hope this picture is of a civilians foot!(1)If this is an Infantryman’s foot the squad leader isnt taking care of his soldiers.Personal hygiene inspections brother, if you dont conduct them, Joe isnt going to do it. (2)If as many soldiers were bitten as this article states, someone in the chain of command isnt performing there job. Absolutly rediculous! I understand if there is no permethrin available but you better get some and use it. I was over in 2003 early on and repellant was hard to get, but that shouldnt be the issue now, and if it is Families should write there congressman. The reason this is an important topic is because of the parasite carried by the sand fly, which causes two types of LEISHMANIASIS one cutaneous(skin) and the other (viseral)internal organs. A soldier in my old Unit Which was over in 2003 with the GaARNG upon returning and getting out of the guard all togeather had a ulserating wound on his ankle that wouldnt go away and had this parasite in him. He had to undergo a 31 day heavy metal treatment, basically chemotherapy, to kill the parasite or it will cause death. Very serious stuff, so NCO’s insure your conducting Hygiene inspections and if you dont have the proper poisons for your sleeping areas and clothes and exposed skin, GET IT. The Battallion Sergeant Major should be all over it.