Bee swarm attack lands Thailand monks in hospital

Dozens of novice monks have been taken to hospital after an attack by a swarm of bees in northern Thailand.

The monks were cleaning the Chedi Luang temple in Chiang Mai province on Saturday when the attack took place.

The Bangkok Post said more than 70 monks were admitted to hospital, quoting one doctor as saying he had seen 19 in serious condition.

Bee stings typically cause skin rashes and nausea but multiple attacks are more serious and occasionally deadly.

Temple abbot Phra Ratcha Jetiyajarn told the Post that 76 monks had been taken to three regional hospitals.

The paper quoted Naren Chotirosnimitr, the director of the Maharaj Nakorn hospital in Chiang Mai, as saying 53 had been treated there, with six arriving in a coma suffering with low blood pressure.

Most of the monks were later discharged.

The abbot said the bees were from hives kept at the temple. They had been no problem previously and it was unclear why they had attacked, he said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18568448

25,000 bees take over man's car

BRIGHTON, Tenn. -- How do you get rid of 25,000 bees that have decided to hang out on your car?

One Tennessee man had to find out the hard way.

Perhaps the bees thought the Hill family drove a pretty sweet ride because a very large colony decided to make their car its home.

"Bees naturally prefer a hollow tree or something like that, but for some reason they got it in their head that the engine in this vehicle was a tree," said bee keeper Bill Hughes.

Tommy Hill was heading out for breakfast when he found thousands of honey bees nesting on his car.

He didn't want to kill them so he tried something else.

"I drove down Highway 51 about 60 miles an hour and I didn't lose a one," he said. "They all stayed in there."

A Brighton resident for over 20 years, Hill says other than a few bees stealing his hummingbird nectar, he's never seen a take-over.

"Never in a car and there's just no way to get them out," Hill said laughing.

Hill's next step was to get help, so he called Hughes.

"This was the most unusual swarm call I've ever gotten," Hughes said.

Using a box of honey, Hughes tried to lure the bees out.

"They just marched right into it," he said.

But the bees didn't stick around for Hughes to transport them.

Instead, they swarmed into a tree and then moved again.

"Within five minutes all the bees left the tree and went back into the engine of the car," Hill said.

By Tuesday, just as suddenly as they'd appeared, the bees were gone.

Hughes believes they were just confused and said Hill did the right thing by buzzing for help.

"They can get a little nasty," Hughes said. "So, it's best to get someone out who knows what they're doing."

Hughes says you should contact a local beekeeper before taking on a swarm of bees and always wash your car if you see bee's wax on it, because that wax can ruin a paint job.

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=19687614&nid=711&title=25000-bees-take-over-mans-car 

British tourist killed in bee attack

A British man was stung to death by a swarm of bees while he was on holiday with his wife in Africa, it has emerged.

Mick Bryan, 61, and Jacqueline, 43, were exploring Tanzania when the killer bees launched an attack on the Cambridgeshirecouple at a remote campsite.

The father-of-three attempted to drive off after the attack but collapsed and later died in hospital. His wife was also stung but survived.

Speaking to The Sun, a family member said: “They were out in the middle of nowhere getting ready to have some lunch when they heard a buzzing noise. Mick shouted to Jacqueline to run. 

“He was covered in bees. He tried to drive off but it all happened too quickly. Jacqueline couldn't get any phone reception so she had to run to the main road for help.”
His sister Louise Adam, 64, is also quoted as saying: “He was a wonderful man. He'd do anything for anyone.”

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are aware of the death of a British National in Tanzania and are in contact with the family, providing consular assistance.”


http://uk.news.yahoo.com/british-tourist-killed-in-bee-attack.html