3 Dead, Hundreds Hospitalized As Thunderstorms Unleash Scorpion Attacks In Egypt

Three people have been killed and over 450 others have been stung by scorpions in Egypt’s southern city of Aswan.

The mass scorpion attack was a result of severe thunderstorms in the province, after the predatory arachnids were washed into the streets and homes, where they were seeking refuge from the extreme weather conditions, reports BBC.

Residents in the area were also told to avoid mountainous regions during the swarm, as scorpions often choose shelter in particularly higher elevations, according to YNet News.

A representative of the Ministry of Health and Population in Aswan revealed that 89 cases of scorpion stings are receiving treatment in Aswan University Hospital, 118 others are in Kom Ombo Central Hospital, while the rest are in the hospitals of Drau, Nasr al-Nuba, Edfu, and Abou Simbel, per Egypt Today.

Extra doses of anti-venom have been provided to medical centres in villages near mountains and deserts, a health official told Al-Ahram news agency, as per the BBC report. Doctors who had been administering COVID-19 vaccines have also reportedly been roped in to assist in treating scorpion stings.

Though anti-venom is normally used as a preventative measure before symptoms arise, it can also work if symptoms start to worsen.

The Egyptian fat-tailed scorpion is touted to be one of the deadliest scorpions in the world, usually preying on insects or spiders. The Hadassah University Medical Center states that there are close to 1,000 known types of scorpions in the world. 21 different kinds of the arachnid can be found in Israel, of which five carry poisonous venom, including fat-tail scorpions.

For treating a sting, Hadassah advises "calming the victim, immobilizing the affected limb, and quick transport to a hospital. It is also advisable to put some ice on the sting, which will alleviate the pain, and slow the progress of the venom," as per YNet News.

Ahmed Rizk, a professor at the Agricultural Research Center, added that if someone has been stung by a scorpion, they must firmly tie a piece of cloth near the bite to try and stop the venom from reaching the heart and seek medical aid immediately.

Meanwhile, locals have raised concerns over floods, as the typically dry area does not receive such heavy rainfall, which has also caused power outage in the area.