Swarming bees sting 15 scholars

By Holly Konig

FIFTEEN pupils were stung when a beehive was disturbed at a school in Naidooville, Umkomaas, yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 18/1).

Reports indicate a boy threw a rock at a beehive hanging in the school’s tree.

Netcare 911 paramedics, the provincial ambulance service and several other emergency services responded as 15 pupils were stung by the disturbed bees. Paramedics found that the majority of the children’s stings were to their heads and hands. After examination all were found to be stable and fortunately none presented with allergic reactions.

Paramedics warn that this time of year is ‘swarming season’ for bees. Established hives breed a new queen and part of the swarm will then move off to build their own hive. While the bees are in flight, looking for a new place to make a hive, they often settle in trees and hang there for some time. Some of the bees known as scouts will look for a suitable place to build before they return to fetch the queen and other worker bees. Without a hive to protect, they are not aggressive. However if attacked, like when stones are thrown at them, they will defend the queen with all they have. Once one starts to sting, a pheromone is released and this is an attack signal to all other bees.

Netcare 911’s Chris Botha advised, “As a beekeeper myself for more than 30 years, I recommend that people teach children the dangers of bees and how to avoid them. We were very lucky today, as this could have cost children their lives.”

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