Russian tourists have reported allergic rashes after walking or cycling through the Curonian Spit in the Kaliningrad Region, according to the Telegram channel Shot.
Among those affected is a Moscow resident named Yekaterina. She said she visited the Curonian Spit in early August and later developed a rash. A doctor told her the cause was poisonous microscopic hairs from the oak processionary moth caterpillar that had landed on her skin. She said she is still being treated.
More cases reported
Two residents of the Kaliningrad Region, Roman and Yelena, also developed rashes. All those affected said they had not touched any caterpillars directly but had been cycling through the popular tourist area.
According to Shot, hundreds of the caterpillars gather on the bike path, making them easy to run over. Their poisonous hairs then spread through the air and reach people's skin. The resulting blisters and itching from the allergic reaction can, in severe cases, lead to anaphylactic shock.
