BOSTON (WCVB) – A 40-year-old woman was taken to the hospital after she was stung by a scorpion while collecting her bags at the airport.
Massachusetts State Police say a 40-year-old woman was stung by a scorpion while getting her luggage from baggage claim at Boston Logan International Airport. The incident happened around 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
The woman had just returned on a flight from Mexico when she was stung on her finger, according to Boston EMS. She was taken to the hospital for treatment.
It’s not known what species of scorpion stung the woman, and police haven’t said if it was captured or killed.
Dr. Carlos Santibanez studies scorpions at Western Connecticut State University. He says he has been stung several times himself.
“Like a hot needle gets into your skin. You will feel pain, but then, that pain will become a numbness,” Santibanez said.
He believes the scorpion likely hitched a ride from Mexico. Since it’s unclear if the arachnid was caught, he says passengers and workers should be vigilant.
“Especially… if something falls onto the ground and they need to pick it up,” Santibanez said. “As soon as they [scorpions] find themselves in unknown spaces, they will seek shelter, and most of the times, they will try to hide under anything that is underground.”
Santibanez says out of more than 2,000 scorpion species globally, only about 3% of them are deadly. He also says he doesn’t expect the scorpion to survive very long at the airport – if it is still alive – because of the cold weather.
Most scorpions live in dry, desert areas, most commonly in the southern and southwestern United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some species can be found in grasslands, forests and inside caves.
A sting or bite from a scorpion can cause mild discomfort or pain, and symptoms usually subside within 48 hours.
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