A man from Arizona, who was stung by 10,000 bees, survived the attack but left him with 500 to 1,000 killer bee stings on Friday.
Investigators said that the unidentified man was currently working on the golf-course type residential area near Kingman in northwestern Arizona. He was able to get inside his vehicle with the help of two passersby, who were also stung but did not need hospital admission.
The man was admitted at Kingman Regional Medical Center and is now in stable medical condition. He apparently disturbed a large hive of bees in a backyard before the attack happened, said Mohave County Sheriff's spokeswoman Leslie DeSantis.
"The number of bees in the shed was unbelievable," she said. "The deputy who arrived said it was like something you'd see in the movies. It was just amazing."
A specific type of bee has recently been on the loose, attacking citizens and other animals in Arizona. One of the reported incidents involved an 84-year-old man from Tucson, who suffered more than 2,000 bee stings.
Authorities are looking at Africanized honey bees to be the main culprit in the recent happenings.
Also known as killer bees, these insects are crossbreeds between the African and European honey bees, explained Reed Booth, a bee-removal business owner in southern Arizona. He also said that these bees are always on the lookout for possible threats to their hives. Even the scent of cologne or the presence of colored shorts may be perceived as dangers.
"They hate any movement, noise or vibration," he added. "They hate everything."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture released a list of essential things that must be done if ever an individual is attacked by Africanized honey bees. Here is a quick guide:
Run as fast as you can. Do not stop running to rescue others, unless small children and disabled individuals are at risk.
While running away from the bees, try to simultaneously cover your face or pull up your shirt to protect the sensitive areas of the head. Do this without compromising the speed of your run.
Stop running only if you find an enclosed area such as a building or vehicle. Attempt to find a well-lit place as bees tend to be confused by this and subsequently fly away, usually out of the window.
Never submerge yourself in a body of water as bees will wait for you to come up and gasp for air.
Cover yourself with available protective materials, such as blankets or a piece of clothing.
Apart from movements made while running, do not make unnecessary movements as bees are attracted to them. Bees may get crushed if you move too much and emit a smell that is highly attractive to bees.
When you reach a safe place, remove all stingers using a material with straight edges such as a credit card, dull knife or the side of your fingernail. Do not use tweezers or fingers as it may squeeze in more venom into the stung area.
If you spot other people being attacked by bees, tell them to run for shelter. Call 911 or groups of trained personnel for professional help.
Honey bees may provide various benefits to humans, but they can also be very dangerous. It is important to be aware of basic interventions to stay protected from bee attacks.
Photo: Steven Depolo | Flickr
