What to do if a leech attaches to you in the jungle?

If a land leech attaches, the main thing is not to panic. The bite is painless, and the leech itself does not transmit diseases. The safest option is to wait until it gets full and falls off on its own (this takes 10-30 minutes). You can calmly continue on your way.

If you don't want to wait, you can remove the leech in several ways (from the simplest to the safest):

• Mechanically: Grab it with your fingers and pull it off sharply (as locals often do).
• By cauterization: Bring a burning match or smoldering cigarette close to it.
• Chemically: Drop iodine, alcohol, gasoline, or a strong saline solution on it.

After the leech falls off, the wound may bleed quite heavily because its saliva contains an anticoagulant. The bleeding will stop on its own after a few minutes. You can press the bite site with a clean cloth or cover it with a bandage. The main thing is not to scratch it to avoid introducing dirt.

For more practical tips and video instructions, see our guide: What to do if a leech attaches.

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