Wasp breeding season brings unwanted guests to province
陕西逾千人遭黄蜂袭击

There has been an alarming increase in the number of wasp attacks in the western Chinese province of Shaanxi. Local health and forestry officials say this is because autumn is the peak breeding season for wasps. And they caution against disturbing them.

A sting that can kill.

Since July, 41 people have died from wasp stings in Shaanxi Province. As of October the 1st, some one thousand 600 people have been victims of wasp attacks. Doctors say these poisonous stings can damage one’s kidneys, lungs and heart. And if a person is suffering from other underlying conditions, the stings can prove deadly.

Experts say autumn is the breeding and relocation season for wasps, which makes them fierce and aggressive. They advise people to wear hats when trekking in mountains and refrain from drinking alcohol and wearing perfume. They also advise getting treated as quickly as possible after a sting.

Wasps can reach lengths of up to 6 centimeters. They use their one-centimeter-long tail sting to pierce human skin. Once the sting is inside, they tend to inject poison into the body multiple times. The liquid will then circulate throughout the body.

If one is already suffering from some diseases or is an elderly person, this poison may prove deadly.