Scorpion swarms kill 3, injure hundreds in Egyptian city
Heavy rains wash animals out of their nests and into populated areas; doctors diverted from COVID centers to treat stings
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
Illustrative: A black fat-tail scorpion. (CC-BY SA, Guy Haimovitch/Wikimedia Commons)
Scorpions inundated a city in southern Egypt on Saturday, killing three people and injuring 453.
Heavy storms, including rain, hail and thunder, flooded the city of Aswan and the nearby Nile River in recent days.
An expert told local media that heavy rains wash scorpions and snakes out of their resting places, causing them to seek shelter in homes, particularly on high ground.
Doctors in the area were redirected from a COVID vaccination campaign to treat stings. Health officials said extra doses of anti-venom were sent to clinics. People were encouraged to avoid mountainous and wooded areas.
A sting from Egypt’s fat-tail scorpion can kill a human in under an hour.
read more:
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
The Times of Israel Community.
JOIN THE TOI COMMUNITY
Already a member? Log in here