At least 19 people have been stung to death by hornets, which
may include the world's largest hornet species Vespa mandarinia, in China's
central Shaanxi province in the last three months, according to the city
government of Ankang, the apparent epicenter of a recent spate of fatalities
and injuries. A total of 583 people in the area have been stung by hornets
since July 1, while victims are still recovering in hospitals.
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Chen Changlin was hospitalized after being attacked by
hornets, while harvesting rice last week. "I ran and shouted for help, but
the hornets chased me about 200 meters, and stung me for more than 3
minutes," he recounted to the state-run China Youth Daily.
Chen said hornets had first swarmed a woman and child
working nearby, who then ran towards him. Both later died from the hornets'
toxins.
"The more you run, the more they want to chase you,"
said another victim, whose kidneys were ravaged by the venom. When he was
admitted to the hospital, his urine was the color of soy sauce, according to
local reports.
Earlier this month, 30 people -- including 23 primary school
children aged between six and eight years -- were injured in a hornet attack in
Guangxi province, south of Shaanxi. Their teacher, Li Zhiqiang, told his
students to hide under tables as he tried to drive away the insects before he
lost consciousness. The school's headmaster told local media that most of the
injured suffered stings to their heads, necks, hands and feet.
Nearly 60 students and teachers were injured in a separate
incident in the province at the start of the month, according to state media.
Experts say a number of reasons may have contributed to the
apparent increase in hornet activity, including the region's recent hot, dry
weather, land development and hornet sensitivity to the smell of people.
The Asian killer hornet, which is suspected in these
incidents, are formidable, carnivorous killers, according to the non-profit
Honeybee Conservancy. The species feed their young with the larvae of other
insects and use their talons and mandibles to sever the limbs and heads of
their prey. The hornet's venom sting is a neurotoxin so powerful that it
dissolves human tissue, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
This week's latest incidents spurred the Ankang city
government to hold an emergency video call addressing local concerns. Vice
Mayor Lu Qi said he would increase investment in regional hornet control. Mayor
Xu Qifang added the city would establish a 24-hour emergency hornet response
team.
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