Latest news with #PierreMathonier
USA Today
6 days ago
- Health
- USA Today
Are bees dangerous? What to know after multiple cases of bee attacks
A town in south-central France faced an unusual siege on Sunday, July 6 when a swarm of bees injured 24 people, leaving three in critical condition, local authorities told the Associated Press. Members of a since-relocated hive attacked locals over the course of about 30 minutes, Mayor Pierre Mathonier told local news outlets, and sent three people to the hospital, including a 78-year-old man who went into cardiac arrest before being revived, AP reported. The attack is believed to have been prompted by the presence of Asian hornets, sometimes nicknamed "murder hornets," an invasive species that also has a growing presence in the U.S. The good news is that swarming bee attacks of this severity are rare. Bees and wasps, like plenty of other wildlife, are not known to be particularly aggressive toward humans and generally only attack if their hive has been threatened. While bees and wasps are generally not a risk to people (in fact, their dwindling numbers are a bigger risk to humans as a whole, thanks to the vital role they play in our ecosystem and food chain), stories like the attack out of France are enough to inspire some measure of anxiety. Are bees a potentially deadly danger Americans contend with each time they step out the door? Here's what to know. When bee attacks turn deadly While only an average of 72 Americans died from hornet, wasp and bee stings each year between 2011 and 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it can and does happen, especially in the spring and summer months when North American hives tend to be the most active. Several major bee attacks have been reported in multiple U.S. states in 2025 alone. On Sunday, July 7, bees stung members of a crew working on a nursing home roof in Arizona, killing one and seriously harming two others. In May, a 66-year-old Texas man was killed when a swarm of bees stung him enough times to cause his circulatory system to stop functioning properly. Just weeks before, another Texas resident was attacked by a massive throng that killed three of her horses. Why do bees and wasps attack? Generally speaking, bees and wasps aren't aggressive simply for the sake of being aggressive, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Like most creatures with natural predators, bees have developed mechanisms to protect themselves and their nests. If they perceive humans as a threat, whether that be due to swatting them or disturbing their nest, they may sting as a defense mechanism to ward the threat off. Some bees also release a type of "warning" or "danger" pheromone when they sting that attracts other bees to the fight against the perceived threat at hand, like summoning a small insect army. To avoid drawing the ire of a nest, be aware of your surroundings and avoid nests and swatting at bees hanging out nearby, suggests Mayo Clinic. Cover food when eating outside, avoid floral-smelling colognes and perfumes and wear protective clothing like long sleeves and pants when working or playing outdoors. What should you do if you become a target? If you find yourself at the top of a bee or wasp swarm's public enemy list, stay calm and get out of the area quickly. Your best bet is to run to the nearest shelter, suggests an advisory from the University of Arizona, and keep running until you get there. Protect your face, especially your mouth and eyes, by covering the area with whatever you have on hand – a mask, handkerchief, coat, towel, hat or, as a last resort, your shirt could work. Do not try to freeze, play dead or jump into a body of water, the advisory says. When should I go to the ER after a bee or wasp sting? The most common cause of serious illness or death from bee stings is an allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. An anaphylactic reaction affects your skin, airways, stomach and heart, per the Cleveland Clinic. Although this will vary from person to person, initial symptoms are typically characterized by hives, swelling or edema and breathing difficulties. As symptoms progress, you may begin to experience "tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and then swelling of the face to tongue and lips and eyes," Dr. Payel Gupta, medical director of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology at LifeMD, previously told USA TODAY. If left untreated, anaphylaxis can be fatal. Epinephrine is a life-saving medication used to treat anaphylaxis, and it is injected as a shot in your thigh, according to the Mayo Clinic. Anaphylaxis can happen within seconds, which is why it's so important to call 911 and seek medical care at the onset of symptoms, Gupta said. What if you're not allergic to bees? In some cases, victims of bee attacks can die without having a known allergy, especially if they receive an excessive number of stings. Stings contain venom, which usually can be fought off by the body fairly easily. However, being stung dozens of times can make anyone feel sick as their body works to handle the venom and, in the exceedingly rare case that someone is stung hundreds or even thousands of times, the venom may be enough to cause serious illness or even death, according to the Mayo Clinic. People who are not allergic but have been stung multiple times should still seek medical attention, says the Mayo Clinic, and children or those who have existing respiratory issues are especially at risk for an adverse reaction to a larger number of stings.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Are bees dangerous? What to know after multiple cases of bee attacks
A town in south-central France faced an unusual siege on Sunday, July 6 when a swarm of bees injured 24 people, leaving three in critical condition, local authorities told the Associated Press. Members of a since-relocated hive attacked locals over the course of about 30 minutes, Mayor Pierre Mathonier told local news outlets, and sent three people to the hospital, including a 78-year-old man who went into cardiac arrest before being revived, AP reported. The attack is believed to have been prompted by the presence of Asian hornets, sometimes nicknamed "murder hornets," an invasive species that also has a growing presence in the U.S. The good news is that swarming bee attacks of this severity are rare. Bees and wasps, like plenty of other wildlife, are not known to be particularly aggressive toward humans and generally only attack if their hive has been threatened. While bees and wasps are generally not a risk to people (in fact, their dwindling numbers are a bigger risk to humans as a whole, thanks to the vital role they play in our ecosystem and food chain), stories like the attack out of France are enough to inspire some measure of anxiety. Are bees a potentially deadly danger Americans contend with each time they step out the door? Here's what to know. While only an average of 72 Americans died from hornet, wasp and bee stings each year between 2011 and 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it can and does happen, especially in the spring and summer months when North American hives tend to be the most active. Several major bee attacks have been reported in multiple U.S. states in 2025 alone. On Sunday, July 7, bees stung members of a crew working on a nursing home roof in Arizona, killing one and seriously harming two others. In May, a 66-year-old Texas man was killed when a swarm of bees stung him enough times to cause his circulatory system to stop functioning properly. Just weeks before, another Texas resident was attacked by a massive throng that killed three of her horses. Generally speaking, bees and wasps aren't aggressive simply for the sake of being aggressive, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Like most creatures with natural predators, bees have developed mechanisms to protect themselves and their nests. If they perceive humans as a threat, whether that be due to swatting them or disturbing their nest, they may sting as a defense mechanism to ward the threat off. Some bees also release a type of "warning" or "danger" pheromone when they sting that attracts other bees to the fight against the perceived threat at hand, like summoning a small insect army. To avoid drawing the ire of a nest, be aware of your surroundings and avoid nests and swatting at bees hanging out nearby, suggests Mayo Clinic. Cover food when eating outside, avoid floral-smelling colognes and perfumes and wear protective clothing like long sleeves and pants when working or playing outdoors. If you find yourself at the top of a bee or wasp swarm's public enemy list, stay calm and get out of the area quickly. Your best bet is to run to the nearest shelter, suggests an advisory from the University of Arizona, and keep running until you get there. Protect your face, especially your mouth and eyes, by covering the area with whatever you have on hand – a mask, handkerchief, coat, towel, hat or, as a last resort, your shirt could work. Do not try to freeze, play dead or jump into a body of water, the advisory says. The most common cause of serious illness or death from bee stings is an allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. An anaphylactic reaction affects your skin, airways, stomach and heart, per the Cleveland Clinic. Although this will vary from person to person, initial symptoms are typically characterized by hives, swelling or edema and breathing difficulties. As symptoms progress, you may begin to experience "tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and then swelling of the face to tongue and lips and eyes," Dr. Payel Gupta, medical director of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology at LifeMD, previously told USA TODAY. If left untreated, anaphylaxis can be fatal. Epinephrine is a life-saving medication used to treat anaphylaxis, and it is injected as a shot in your thigh, according to the Mayo Clinic. Anaphylaxis can happen within seconds, which is why it's so important to call 911 and seek medical care at the onset of symptoms, Gupta said. In some cases, victims of bee attacks can die without having a known allergy, especially if they receive an excessive number of stings. Stings contain venom, which usually can be fought off by the body fairly easily. However, being stung dozens of times can make anyone feel sick as their body works to handle the venom and, in the exceedingly rare case that someone is stung hundreds or even thousands of times, the venom may be enough to cause serious illness or even death, according to the Mayo Clinic. People who are not allergic but have been stung multiple times should still seek medical attention, says the Mayo Clinic, and children or those who have existing respiratory issues are especially at risk for an adverse reaction to a larger number of stings. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Are bees deadly? What to know after recent bee attacks
Fox News
7 days ago
- Health
- Fox News
Massive bee swarm sends three people to hospital in critical condition, 24 injured
A buzzing commotion has disrupted a picturesque town this summer. 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.
Telegraph
7 days ago
- Telegraph
Bees attack French town, leaving dozens injured
A swarm of bees attacked a French town on Sunday, leaving dozens of people injured and three in a critical condition in hospital. In an incident lasting around 30 minutes, 24 people were stung in the centre of Aurillac, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, authorities said. A 78-year-old man suffered a cardiac arrest after being stung 25 times. He was later revived and is now in a stable condition. Emergency services, including police, medical teams and firefighters, rushed to the scene to treat the injured and cordon off the area. One mother said she was returning home with her three-year-old daughter when she heard shouting and panic. She was stung four times in the neck while trying to flee. 'There were a lot of bees, there were old people on the ground. It's the first time I've seen that,' she told French radio station RMC. An 80-year-old woman, who lives by the square where the attack happened, described the chaos. 'I saw two young women and a couple shaking each other. I saw a young woman in her bra and panties, she didn't know how to handle this problem,' she told France Info. 'I got the impression they were being assaulted by something but I didn't know what.' The bees reportedly appeared from a rooftop apiary on the terrace of the Grand Hôtel de Bordeaux, near Place du Square. Pierre Mathonier, the town's mayor, said: 'One theory seems to hold water… Asian hornets must have threatened the hive, which provoked the bees' aggression. These aggressive bees spread to Avenue de la République and attacked passers-by.' However, some experts cast doubt on that theory. Mickaël Henry, the director of the bees and environment research team, told the Libération newspaper: 'When faced with a hornet, bees generally tend to stop going out and protect the entrance of the hive.' Walid Loulidi, a master beekeeper at the Paris School of Beekeeping, gave another possible explanation. He said that breeding black bees with other species – a strategy used to increase honey production – could result in changes in behaviour over time. The rooftop apiary has been moved since the incident, and Mr Mathonier said he was considering banning them in the town. The Aurillac prosecutor's office said it was requesting the destruction of the 70,000 bees in the area.
MTV Lebanon
7 days ago
- MTV Lebanon
Bee attack leaves three in critical condition and dozens injured in France
Three people in a French town remain in a "critical but stable condition" following an unusual bee attack at the weekend which left 24 passersby injured, the mayor of Aurillac said on Monday. Twenty-four people were hurt and three were rushed to hospital in critical condition when hundreds of bees suddenly attacked people in the central-southern town on Sunday morning. According to local media, one of them was a 78-year-old woman who was stung 25 times and had to be resuscitated after a cardiorespiratory arrest. Police and firefighters fenced off the area and a beekeeper was called in to smoke out the bees - a safe way to calm the insects. A local man called Andrée said he witnessed "very panicked people" trying to bat off the bees. "I could tell they were being attacked by something but I couldn't figure out what," he told French media. The mayor of Aurillac, Pierre Mathonier, was reported as saying that Asian hornets threatening a beehive may have been the catalyst for the attack. But Christian Carrier, the president of the regional beekeepers' union, was sceptical. He told France Info that bees generally avoid leaving their colonies altogether in the presence of Asian hornets. Instead, he said that the unusual incident may have been due to the bee colony becoming too large for its beehive and becoming "overactive" when the beekeeper handled it. "It may be that [the bees] didn't have enough space and that their colony had no intention of swarming. This can trigger strong aggression," Mr Carrier said.
