Nature & Environment

Dozens killed by giant hornets in China

By T.K. Randall
September 27, 2013 ·  16 comments

Giant hornets can prove deadly. Image Credit: CC BY 2.0 Thomas Brown The warm summer in central China has resulted in a significant increase in giant hornet populations. Known for being extremely aggressive, giant hornets have the potential to be lethal and can pursue a target for miles. Their venom is highly toxic and can lead to both anaphylactic shock and heart failure.Between 2001 and 2005, 36 people were killed and 715 injured by giant hornets in the city of Ankang alone. This year the problem has been worse than ever with 18 deaths and several hundred more reported injuries.

Authorities have warned people to seek medical assistance if they are stung more than 10 times and that 30 or more stings can be life threatening. The city fire department has been attempting to help out by removing hornet nests from the area, but despite more than 300 nests being destroyed so far this summer the problem is unlikely to subside until the temperature drops in the coming months.

Source: The Guardian | Comments (16)

Tags: Hornet, China