I was always thought that only reservist like me suffer greatly
from sandfly bites. Looks like it's a common problem even for US
soldiers in Iraq.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,12103568%255E31477,00.html
COLOMBIAN Army troops must dodge land mines and ambushes in their
offensive against rebels in the jungle, but one of their biggest
obstacles is the lowly sand fly.
Leishmaniasis, caused by sand-fly bites that produce nasty open
sores and swelling, now forces more troops from the battlefield
into hospitals than gunshots and mine blasts combined. It has
hampered the army's unprecedented onslaught to wipe out the
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.
Caused by a parasite living in the sand fly's gut, the
disease is found in parts of 88 countries, mostly tropical or
subtropical. US soldiers in Iraq call it "Baghdad boil," and last
year, hundreds of them had to be ferried home for
treatment.
