Massive bee swarm sends three people to hospital in critical condition, 24 injured
A swarm of bees left 24 people injured in an unusual attack on Sunday, The Associated Press (AP) reported.
Those walking through Aurillac, a quaint French community, were stung over a 30-minute period, with three people in critical condition evacuated to a hospital.
Some 26,000 people were living in the alp town in 2022, according to the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. Aurillack is located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France.
Pierre Mathonier, mayor of Aurillac, told a local broadcaster that those who were left in critical condition are improving, AP reported.
One victim was a 78-year-old who suffered cardiorespiratory arrest and had to be resuscitated.
That individual is now in stable condition, while the other two are said to be in "good health," per the mayor.
Mathonier added the attack could have been related to the bees becoming more aggressive over the years.
Over a decade ago, Asian hornets were harassing a beehive that was on the roof terrace of a downtown hotel, he told AP.
Lt. Col. Michel Cayla, who runs the local fire services, said the attack was "impressive" and he has never seen an attack of this scale.
Cayla told French broadcaster TF1, "In terms of the number of victims, the panic among the people and the severity of some of the injuries, it was impressive," as AP reported.
Bee sting symptoms are mostly "minor." Victims can experience instant, sharp, burning pain, as well as a welt and swelling, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The CDC predicted an annual average of 62 deaths due to bee and hornet stings between 2000-2017 in the United States.
The beehive has been removed and relocated outside the town, according to AP.
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'Examples of these powders are whey, casein and those labelled as 'diet" options,' he continues. 'They are mostly comprised of protein with very little added carbs or fats, meaning you can consume around 30g of protein for under 150 calories, which is very low when compared to higher-calorie shakes which can be around 600 calories. Keep in mind that whey is best taken after training as it elicits muscle protein synthesis and will support muscle repairs. Casein, on the other hand, is a slower-absorbing powder and best taken pre-bed to help reduce total body protein breakdown, which occurs when we go long periods without eating, e.g. sleeping.' These are similar to the muscle gainers mentioned before. 'These powders contain additional calories from carbs and fats to help you consume more energy,' says Fleming. 'The only main difference is that these shakes do not contain dairy and thus will have a slightly lower leucine content. 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Check out our full list of MH-approved vegan protein. £22.75 at Whey Awarded 'Best for an Energy Boost' in 2024: 'This whey and soya-based blend offers a good mix of protein and fat-burning ingredients, with 17g of protein, 91 calories and 1.4g of fat per serving. It also features L-carnitine – a chemical that helps the body turn fat into energy – and green tea extract, an antioxidant that can aid weight loss.' Check out our full list of MH-approved whey protein. £43.65 at Protein Awarded 'Best for Natural Ingredients' in 2024: 'Made with a blend of pea, sunflower and rice protein, plus organic coconut sugar, raw cacao and banana, 33Fuel's Premium Protein avoids the artificial ingredients often found in protein powders. Flavour-wise, it's rich in cacao with hints of malt and dried fruit.' Check out our full list of MH-approved vegan protein. £31.19 at 33Fuel Isolate vs Concentrate vs Casein: Which Should You Choose? 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