The sun is shining, but the sky is hazy and dark. The air is literally full of "lake flies." Walking outside leaves one looking like a car's windshield after a long trip - plastered with bugs. Due to their massive numbers there is no safe way to breathe; the bugs are either going up your nose or down your throat - your choice. However, I've been told that people here do eat lake flies so I guess i can just count them as extra protein for the day
When I went into the medical ward this morning there were dead bodies everywhere. The floor was covered in a brown carpet of "lake flies'" bodies. They were so numerous there were even brown snow drifts of bugs along the walls. In the space of three hours, the counters and medication carts were washed three times in an attempt to create a clean and usable workspace. Unfortunately, as soon as the surfaces were cleaned they were within minutes inundated with more bugs.
Luckily it is not like this on a daily basis. The infestation only lasts about 48 hours before it begins to slowly taper off and has only occurred four times since I have been here. The locals tell me that there arrival is indicative of imminent rainfall; then they clarified "imminent," to be some time in February when the rainy season beings.
