Wasps chase woman into clinic, sting patients in waiting room

By Suranga Rajanayake - Gampola
After a woman was attacked by wasps and ran to the Udagama Rural Hospital in Atabage, Gampola, the wasps pursued her and subsequently attacked those at a medical clinic, leading to eleven individuals being admitted to the Gampola Teaching Hospital.   

• The attack injured four hospital staff members, eight women, three men, and the doctor

The attack injured four hospital staff members, eight women, three men, and the doctor.   
Villagers reported that a hawk disturbed a wasp nest attached to a tree in Kalawelgolla area in Atabage.   
The injured woman passing by was stung and, in her panic, ran to the hospital seeking refuge.   
At that time, a clinic was underway, with many people present. As the woman approached the group screaming, the wasps followed and attacked everyone.   
In an attempt to escape, people closed the hospital’s windows and doors and lit fires to ward off the wasps. Later, two ambulances were summoned, and the severely injured were transported to the 
Gampola Hospital.   
Nearby shopkeepers also faced threats from the wasps, leading them to shut their shops and use 
smoke for protection.   
The rapidly growing wasp population in the hill country has significantly impacted the lives of residents, including plantation workers. Several fatalities have already been reported due to 
wasp attacks.   
Frequent wasp attacks have also led to hospitalizations of children from estate and rural schools.