Heavy rains and flooding in Aswan, Egypt, have prompted a stream of thousands of scorpions to seek shelter in people's homes.
Quoted from Al Jazeera, Thursday (11/18/2021) three people were reported dead and more than 400 people were hospitalized across the province to receive anti-venom treatment after being stung by a scorpion that invaded the region.
However, Egypt's Health Minister Khalid Abdel-Ghafar said in a statement that no deaths had been reported from the scorpion's sting.
The Ministry of Health has assured the public that they have a large enough stock of anti-venom. 3,350 doses of anti-venom available in Aswan.
Aswan Governor Ashraf Attia said heavy rains and subsequent flooding also forced the local government to suspend schools.
People who have been stung by scorpions say their symptoms include severe pain, fever, sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle tremors and head twitching.
To note, the Aswan mountains are home to the Arabian fat tailed scorpion (Androctonus crassicauda), which translates from Greek to 'human killer'.
They are considered the most dangerous scorpion in the world, with a venom so poisonous that it can kill an adult within an hour of being stung. Their stings are known to cause several human deaths a year.
This scorpion is 8-10cm long and relies on vibrations and sound to find its prey because it has poor eyesight, hearing and smell.
