 |
| Vespa mandarinia japonica, a subspecies of the giant Asian hornet |
42 DEAD AS HORNETS KILL IN CHINA.
The Asian giant hornet,
known scientifically as Vespa mandarinia, carries a venom that destroys
red blood cells, which can result in kidney failure and death, said
Justin O. Schmidt, an entomologist at the Southwest Biological Institute
in Tucson, Arizona.
But perhaps a bigger
problem than the toxicity of the venom is allergy, Schmidt says. Some
people are naturally more allergic to stinging insects than others; a
sting can trigger a deadly anaphylactic reaction, which may involve
airway closure or cardiac arrest.
Since July, hornet
attacks have killed 42 people and injured 1,675 people in three cities
in Shaanxi province, according to the local government. Among those
attacked, 206 are receiving treatment in hospitals. The pain of the Asian Giant Hornet is described as a hot nail piercing the skin and lasts for about 4 hours with instant swelling. One victim told local media earlier this month that " the more you run the more they want to chase you" Some victims described being chased about 200 metres by a swarm. Local authorities have deployed thousands of police officers and locals to destroy about 710 hives but " its very difficult to prevent the attacks because hornet nests are usually in hidden sites. 
