Are bees dangerous? What to know after multiple cases of bee attacks

USA Today

19 hours ago

A town in south-central France faced an unusual siege on Sunday, July 6 when a swarm of bees injured 24 people, leaving three in critical condition, local authorities told the Associated Press.
Members of a since-relocated hive attacked locals over the course of about 30 minutes, Mayor Pierre Mathonier told local news outlets, and sent three people to the hospital, including a 78-year-old man who went into cardiac arrest before being revived, AP reported.
The attack is believed to have been prompted by the presence of Asian hornets, sometimes nicknamed "murder hornets," an invasive species that also has a growing presence in the U.S.
The good news is that swarming bee attacks of this severity are rare. Bees and wasps, like plenty of other wildlife, are not known to be particularly aggressive toward humans and generally only attack if their hive has been threatened.
While bees and wasps are generally not a risk to people (in fact, their dwindling numbers are a bigger risk to humans as a whole, thanks to the vital role they play in our ecosystem and food chain), stories like the attack out of France are enough to inspire some measure of anxiety.
Are bees a potentially deadly danger Americans contend with each time they step out the door? Here's what to know.
When bee attacks turn deadly
While only an average of 72 Americans died from hornet, wasp and bee stings each year between 2011 and 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it can and does happen, especially in the spring and summer months when North American hives tend to be the most active.
Several major bee attacks have been reported in multiple U.S. states in 2025 alone.
On Sunday, July 7, bees stung members of a crew working on a nursing home roof in Arizona, killing one and seriously harming two others.
In May, a 66-year-old Texas man was killed when a swarm of bees stung him enough times to cause his circulatory system to stop functioning properly. Just weeks before, another Texas resident was attacked by a massive throng that killed three of her horses.
Why do bees and wasps attack?
Generally speaking, bees and wasps aren't aggressive simply for the sake of being aggressive, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Like most creatures with natural predators, bees have developed mechanisms to protect themselves and their nests. If they perceive humans as a threat, whether that be due to swatting them or disturbing their nest, they may sting as a defense mechanism to ward the threat off.
Some bees also release a type of "warning" or "danger" pheromone when they sting that attracts other bees to the fight against the perceived threat at hand, like summoning a small insect army.
To avoid drawing the ire of a nest, be aware of your surroundings and avoid nests and swatting at bees hanging out nearby, suggests Mayo Clinic. Cover food when eating outside, avoid floral-smelling colognes and perfumes and wear protective clothing like long sleeves and pants when working or playing outdoors.
What should you do if you become a target?
If you find yourself at the top of a bee or wasp swarm's public enemy list, stay calm and get out of the area quickly.
Your best bet is to run to the nearest shelter, suggests an advisory from the University of Arizona, and keep running until you get there. Protect your face, especially your mouth and eyes, by covering the area with whatever you have on hand – a mask, handkerchief, coat, towel, hat or, as a last resort, your shirt could work.
Do not try to freeze, play dead or jump into a body of water, the advisory says.
When should I go to the ER after a bee or wasp sting?
The most common cause of serious illness or death from bee stings is an allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. An anaphylactic reaction affects your skin, airways, stomach and heart, per the Cleveland Clinic.
Although this will vary from person to person, initial symptoms are typically characterized by hives, swelling or edema and breathing difficulties. As symptoms progress, you may begin to experience "tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and then swelling of the face to tongue and lips and eyes," Dr. Payel Gupta, medical director of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology at LifeMD, previously told USA TODAY. If left untreated, anaphylaxis can be fatal.
Epinephrine is a life-saving medication used to treat anaphylaxis, and it is injected as a shot in your thigh, according to the Mayo Clinic. Anaphylaxis can happen within seconds, which is why it's so important to call 911 and seek medical care at the onset of symptoms, Gupta said.
What if you're not allergic to bees?
In some cases, victims of bee attacks can die without having a known allergy, especially if they receive an excessive number of stings. Stings contain venom, which usually can be fought off by the body fairly easily.
However, being stung dozens of times can make anyone feel sick as their body works to handle the venom and, in the exceedingly rare case that someone is stung hundreds or even thousands of times, the venom may be enough to cause serious illness or even death, according to the Mayo Clinic.
People who are not allergic but have been stung multiple times should still seek medical attention, says the Mayo Clinic, and children or those who have existing respiratory issues are especially at risk for an adverse reaction to a larger number of stings.