STING OPERATION

Traveler Picking Up Suitcase at Boston Baggage Claim Stung by Scorpion

The woman returning from Mexico had to be taken to a nearby hospital for immediate treatment following the mysterious sting.

A woman was stung by a scorpion when retrieving her luggage at the Boston Logan Airport in the baggage claim area of customs, according to the Massachusetts State Police, ABC News reported. The passenger felt a sharp sting at approximately 7:30 p.m. on Sunday evening when she was picking up her bags after flying back from Mexico. She was immediately taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, according to the police and Boston EMS. Just how a scorpion ended up near her bag at the airport is still unclear, especially because they are not typically local to the Boston area. “While most scorpion stings are not serious, medical attention may be needed for pain management and wound care, including preventive tetanus vaccine,” according to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. “Young children may be more likely to develop neurologic symptoms and need urgent treatment.” It is worth mentioning that over 2,000 species of the predatory arachnids can be found across the globe according to Mayo Clinic. “Scorpions can be found on every continent except Antarctica but are most commonly seen in subtropical and tropical areas of the world,” the CDC claims. “Scorpion stings often cause intense pain and redness, but venom from some species can cause severe illness, affecting the heart, nervous system, and other organs. Manifestations include agitation, arrhythmias, bleeding and other coagulation disorders, pancreatitis, uncontrollable muscle spasms, shock, and even death.”