Bee sting twice as likely to land Australians in hospital than encounter with venomous wildlife
Australia is home to the 11 most venomous snakes in the world, the deadliest spider in the world, and some of the most venomous marine life. And yet according to a study released on Wednesday, Australians are twice as likely end up in hospital because of a bee or wasp sting than an encounter with any other venomous creature.
The study by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare examined hospital records from 2017-2018 for reports of people being admitted to hospital – not just treated in the emergency department – after contact with a venomous creature.
More than a third of the 3,520 people admitted to hospital for contact with a venomous animal or plant had been stung by a bee or a wasp. About one in five were taken to hospital for a spider bite, and 17.3% had been bitten by a snake. Some 13.6% had been bitten by an ant, tick or caterpillar, and 11.2% had been stung by a marine animal.
Australians were taken to hospital for bee and wasp stings in 2017-18 at a rate of five per 100,000, twice the rate of hospitalisation for spiders (2.7 per 100,000) and snakes (2.4 per 100,000).
