The hornets of your nightmares: Swarms of massive insects kill more than 40 and injure 1,600 in China

Daily Mail -

• At least 37 patients are in a critical or  serious condition in hospitals
• Many survivors are now nursing  bullet-sized wounds
• ‘The more you run, the more they chase  you’ victims say
• Species are four times the size of  British honeybees

Swarms of deadly hornets have killed more  than 40 people and injured more than 1,600 in northern China.

At least 37 patients are in a critical or  serious condition in hospitals, according to Shaanxi provincial government.

Victims of the attack have been left with  deep, dark craters in their skin the size of bullet wounds.

Over the past three months the cities of  Angkang, Hanzhong and Shangluo have been worst affected.

The Chinese term for hornets is ‘hu feng’ and local experts believe the culprit is the  Asian giant hornet or Vespa mandarinia, which grows up to 5cm long with a 6mm  sting.

The insects’ highly toxic stings can lead to  anaphylactic shock and renal failure.

One victim told local media that ‘the more  you run, the more they want to chase you’ and some victims described being  chased about 200 metres (656 feet) by the deadly insects.

Authorities have  mobilised a special medic team and  trained more medical personnel to treat victims.

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