Fresh Asian Hornet warning after attack from insect swarm left woman DEAD & 4 in hospital – what to do if you spot one --[Reported by Umva mag]

MEMBERS of the public have faced an urgent warning after an Asian Hornet attack left one woman dead and four others hospitalised. The 77-year-old woman was stung multiple times by the killer insect during the mass attack whilst on a hike in Brittany, France. AlamyThe Asian Giant Hornet is the world’s largest hornet[/caption] GettyAsian hornet also known as the yellow-legged hornet or Asian predatory wasp, is a species of hornet indigenous to Southeast Asia[/caption] The map showed that those living in Kent could be in for a rough time There are many different species of hornet around the world Despite emergency services rushing to attend the woman who had already gone into cardiac arrest, she was later pronounced dead at the scene. Part of a group following a trail near Pleudihen-sur-Rance, Côtes-d’Armor, four others were taken to hospital after being stung. A 68-year-old woman remains in intensive care. Local authorities have closed off the trail in order to destroy the hornet’s nest that the group came across, lying on the ground next to a tree. The same nest was responsible for another close-call where a resident walking along the trail was stung dozens of times before managing to escape, according to French media reports. It comes as Hastings Borough Council was forced to put out a statement for local residents to “please keep your eyes open for Asian Hornets”. Earlier this year a lone Asian Hornet was sighted at Westfield with others spotted in Newhaven the year before. The British Beekeepers Association has asked anyone who spots one to report any sightings to its Asian Hornet watch app. To identify Asian Hornets, the public should remember the three point plan that they have released: Does it look very black? Has it got a wide orange stripe on 4th segment of abdomen? Do its legs look as if they have been dipped in yellow paint? Whilst the RSPB has raised concerns due to its nature reserves in Sussex. A spokesperson told SussexWorld: “The concern around the Asian hornet is that it is a significant predator of bees. “In France, it has consumed large numbers of bees, including the well-known European honey bee and many lesser-known solitary and colonial bee species. “We are concerned about the impacts of Asian hornets on bees, as these pollinating species are an essential component of well-functioning ecosystems.” Alexandra Lecomte, who works to combat invasive species in area, said: “Passing too close to a nest can cause the hornets to become agitated. “We consider that a perimeter of three or four metres around a nest can be dangerous, because they are sensitive to vibrations.” Although human casualties are rare, the deadly attack has sparked fears over the public’s safety – with Asian Hornets now well established in parts of the UK. Despite the infrequent sightings, in summer this year a major victory was declared in the war against Asian Hornets after a ‘Dad’s Army’ in Britain’s frontline saw the number of queens plummet. Fears have been growing for many years that the invasive insects have used the Channel Islands as a launching pad to dig trenches in mainland Britain. The species began to spread through Europe in 2004 after arriving in the south of France inside a freight ship. They were first spotted in the British Isles on the Channel Island of Jersey in late 2016. The ongoing battle has long-raged in the Channel Islands ‘frontline’ in a bid to stop them decimating the native bee population. It is also feared they could have established a fresh route from the continent with several recent sightings confirmed on the coastline around Kent. What to do if you're stung by an Asian hornet & symptoms to look out for Removing stingers If anything is left on, or in your skin, the first thing you need to do is remove it carefully, according to the NHS. Brush or scrape the stinger sideways with your fingernail or the edge of a bank card. Do not use tweezers to pull out a stinger as you could squeeze poison out of it. Wash the area with soap and water. Easing your symptoms If there’s nothing in your skin, or you’ve removed it, wash your skin with soap and water to help lower the chance of infection. The bite or sting should get better in a few days. There are some things you can do to ease your symptoms. DO Put an ice pack wrapped in a cloth or a clean cloth soaked in cold water on the bite or sting for at least 20 minutes, if it’s swollen Keep the area raised if you can Take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen if the sting is painful Use antihistamines to relieve any itching Use a hydrocortisone cream to reduce itching and swelling DON’T Do not scratch the bite or sting, as it could get infected Do not use home remedies such a

Sep 25, 2024 - 16:18

Fresh Asian Hornet warning after attack from insect swarm left woman DEAD & 4 in hospital – what to do if you spot one --[Reported by Umva mag]

MEMBERS of the public have faced an urgent warning after an Asian Hornet attack left one woman dead and four others hospitalised.

The 77-year-old woman was stung multiple times by the killer insect during the mass attack whilst on a hike in Brittany, France.

a close up of a wasp with orange and black stripes

The Asian Giant Hornet is the world’s largest hornet[/caption]

Asian hornet also known as the yellow-legged hornet or Asian predatory wasp, is a species of hornet indigenous to Southeast Asia[/caption]

a map showing asian hornet hotspots in the uk — The map showed that those living in Kent could be in for a rough time

a poster showing asian hornet 25mm and european hornet 30mm — There are many different species of hornet around the world

Despite emergency services rushing to attend the woman who had already gone into cardiac arrest, she was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Part of a group following a trail near Pleudihen-sur-Rance, Côtes-d’Armor, four others were taken to hospital after being stung.

A 68-year-old woman remains in intensive care.

Local authorities have closed off the trail in order to destroy the hornet’s nest that the group came across, lying on the ground next to a tree.

The same nest was responsible for another close-call where a resident walking along the trail was stung dozens of times before managing to escape, according to French media reports.

It comes as Hastings Borough Council was forced to put out a statement for local residents to “please keep your eyes open for Asian Hornets”.

Earlier this year a lone Asian Hornet was sighted at Westfield with others spotted in Newhaven the year before.

The British Beekeepers Association has asked anyone who spots one to report any sightings to its Asian Hornet watch app.

To identify Asian Hornets, the public should remember the three point plan that they have released:

Does it look very black?
Has it got a wide orange stripe on 4th segment of abdomen?
Do its legs look as if they have been dipped in yellow paint?

Whilst the RSPB has raised concerns due to its nature reserves in Sussex.

A spokesperson told SussexWorld: “The concern around the Asian hornet is that it is a significant predator of bees.

“In France, it has consumed large numbers of bees, including the well-known European honey bee and many lesser-known solitary and colonial bee species.

“We are concerned about the impacts of Asian hornets on bees, as these pollinating species are an essential component of well-functioning ecosystems.”

Alexandra Lecomte, who works to combat invasive species in area, said: “Passing too close to a nest can cause the hornets to become agitated.

“We consider that a perimeter of three or four metres around a nest can be dangerous, because they are sensitive to vibrations.”

Although human casualties are rare, the deadly attack has sparked fears over the public’s safety – with Asian Hornets now well established in parts of the UK.

Despite the infrequent sightings, in summer this year a major victory was declared in the war against Asian Hornets after a ‘Dad’s Army’ in Britain’s frontline saw the number of queens plummet.

Fears have been growing for many years that the invasive insects have used the Channel Islands as a launching pad to dig trenches in mainland Britain.

The species began to spread through Europe in 2004 after arriving in the south of France inside a freight ship.

They were first spotted in the British Isles on the Channel Island of Jersey in late 2016.

The ongoing battle has long-raged in the Channel Islands ‘frontline’ in a bid to stop them decimating the native bee population.

It is also feared they could have established a fresh route from the continent with several recent sightings confirmed on the coastline around Kent.

What to do if you're stung by an Asian hornet & symptoms to look out for

Removing stingers

If anything is left on, or in your skin, the first thing you need to do is remove it carefully, according to the NHS.

Brush or scrape the stinger sideways with your fingernail or the edge of a bank card.
Do not use tweezers to pull out a stinger as you could squeeze poison out of it.
Wash the area with soap and water.

Easing your symptoms

If there’s nothing in your skin, or you’ve removed it, wash your skin with soap and water to help lower the chance of infection.

The bite or sting should get better in a few days. There are some things you can do to ease your symptoms.

Put an ice pack wrapped in a cloth or a clean cloth soaked in cold water on the bite or sting for at least 20 minutes, if it’s swollen
Keep the area raised if you can
Take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen if the sting is painful
Use antihistamines to relieve any itching
Use a hydrocortisone cream to reduce itching and swelling

DON’T

Do not scratch the bite or sting, as it could get infected
Do not use home remedies such as bicarbonate of soda to treat the bite or sting

You should ask for an urgent GP appointment or call 111 if:

Your symptoms get worse or are not getting any better
You were stung in your mouth or throat, or near your eyes
You have tummy pain and are being sick
You feel dizzy or lightheaded
A large area around the bite or sting becomes red and swollen
You have a high temperature and swollen glands
You were stung more than once
You’ve had a serious allergic reaction to an insect bite or sting before

Call 999 if:

Your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
You’re breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you’re choking or gasping for air)
Your throat feels tight or you’re struggling to swallow
Your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
You suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
Someone faints and cannot be woken up
A child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)

You or the person who’s unwell may also have a rash that’s swollen, raised or itchy.

These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.

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