Much more dangerous than its European colleague, the Asian hornet (vespa velutina nigrithorax, its scientific name) is a real problem in western and southwestern France. While the bite is painful, in most cases it is harmless – however, it can cause severe allergic reactions (the notorious anaphylactic shock), cardiovascular complications and / or respiratory distress in some people.
This Tuesday, September 5, 2017, a dozen teenagers aged 12 to 15 as well as an adult were attacked by a swarm of Asian hornets, an insect usually not very aggressive when it is not disturbed in its natural environment. The victims were inside the André-Malraux college in Amboise (Indre-et-Loire) and were enjoying their recreation.
Called to the scene, firefighters destroyed the nest, an impressive construction that measured three inches wide by fourty inches long and was in a hedge separating the establishment from a neighboring dwelling – the nest was within 2 meters above the ground.
6 adolescents were hospitalized
A security perimeter was set up and 6 adolescents were hospitalized as a precaution: some had suffered several consecutive injections. For the moment, their state of health is not worrying.
Unfortunately, the story does not always end so well: thus, on July 22, a Breton sixty-year-old died after being stung twice by an Asian hornet – the victim however had a history of heart disease. According to statistics, the Asian hornet has already caused the death of 4 people in France since 2009. Caution …
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