Insect stings kill six people in Tyrol over decade

Six people in Tyrol have died after being stung by bees, wasps or hornets over the past ten years, ORF reports. The Austrian Road Safety Board also says many more people require hospital treatment, while the Tyrol Red Cross has recorded a sharp rise in emergency callouts this year.

Two people died in each of 2025 and 2022, while there was one death in both 2020 and 2016. Across Austria, 68 people died following contact with hornets, wasps or bees over the same period. The country recorded 13 deaths in 2024, compared with two in 2019.

According to the Austrian Road Safety Board, almost 1,000 people a year are admitted to hospital in Austria because of insect stings, including spider bites.

Red Cross reports sharp rise in callouts

The Tyrol emergency service responded to 136 insect sting incidents in July 2026, compared with 28 in July last year, said Jörg Waldner, head of the Tyrol emergency services division.

The increase was even greater in August. In the first half of the month, the service recorded 175 callouts, compared with 17 during the same period last year. The number of callouts had therefore almost quintupled in July compared with 2025 and more than increased tenfold in August.

Allergic reactions require immediate help

Swollen eyes or a swollen tongue can indicate an allergy to bee or wasp stings. Other warning signs include an urge to cough and an itchy rash across the body, the Austrian Road Safety Board said.

In such cases, people should call the emergency number 144 and provide first aid. Depending on the situation, this may include raising the person’s legs, placing an unconscious person in the recovery position and performing resuscitation if necessary.

People with a known allergy can, after consulting a doctor, carry an emergency kit during the summer. Such kits usually contain cortisone tablets, antihistamine tablets and an adrenaline pen. They should also carry an allergy pass and inform people close to them about the allergy.

Advice to prevent stings

The Austrian Road Safety Board recommends using fly screens to protect living spaces. If potentially dangerous insects swarm around someone, sudden movements should be avoided so the insects do not feel threatened and sting. People entering grass or other green spaces should wear sturdy shoes.

The board also advises staying away from rubbish bins outdoors and taking care when drinking from cans or dark bottles. It recommends drinking from glasses or sealing containers after every sip. Wasps nesting near a house should be removed by professionals.