Wasp season strains EpiPen supplies in Styria

With wasp activity at its peak, pharmacies in Styria are reporting shortages of EpiPens, which inject adrenaline quickly after a sting to help prevent an allergic shock, ORF reported.

Long periods of warm, dry weather provide ideal conditions for wasps to feed their larvae, making 2026 a particularly strong wasp year. Allergic people are advised to carry an EpiPen, but supplies are currently difficult to obtain.

Graz pharmacist Gerhard Kobinger said the shortage had come at the worst possible time. He expects new supplies at the end of August or the beginning of September. Junior EpiPens are available, but two would be needed in an emergency, making them a more expensive option. The Austrian Chamber of Pharmacists’ app shows which pharmacies still have limited stocks.

For people without an EpiPen, Kobinger recommends preparing an emergency pack containing a metered-dose aerosol to widen the airways, as well as cortisone and antihistamine tablets. This should be discussed with a doctor in advance.

If someone begins to have difficulty breathing, they should call the emergency services immediately. Peter Hansak, the regional emergency services commander for the Red Cross, said emergency crews are well equipped to treat anaphylactic shock and have sufficient medication available.