1 Man Killed, Another Injured After Being Attacked By Wild Bees In Atok, Benguet

A farmer died while his companion was rushed to a hospital in Baguio City after they were attacked by wild bees in barangay Topdac in Atok, Benguet. The man who passed away has been identified as Charlie Mendoza. His companion who was brought to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) is Romeo Butag. Both men are residents of barangay Topdac in Atok.

Mario Baliwen, an official in Topdac, told Bombo Baguio (a local radio station) that Mendoza and Butag went to a nearby mountain to collect firewood when they encountered a swarm of wild bees. They were chased by the bees and stung on different parts of their bodies. According to Butag, he felt dizzy and nauseous when he got home after the incident. This prompted residents in the area to rush him to a hospital in Baguio City.

Other residents went to the mountain to check on Mendoza and that's when they found him lying along the trail and no longer alive. Mendoza had several bee sting marks in various parts of his body especially on his head and stomach.

Image credit: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)

This is obviously a case of bee poisoning. According to Healthline, most people who have been stung by a bee do not require any medical attention. However, if the person has been stung numerous times, the accumulated poison from the bee stings can turn fatal. The health website recommends that if a person feels dizziness, headaches, nausea, and difficulty breathing after getting stung by bees, the person should seek medical attention immediately.

Update: several readers have suggested that the culprits may not be ordinary honey bees. The local radio station in Baguio City which first reported the incident used the term "uyokan" which is the Kankana-ey term for wasps/hornets/yellow jackets.