Scorpion stings traveller at Düsseldorf Airport; snake bites woman in Bucharest after rescue attempt
A 52-year-old traveler was stung by a scorpion at Düsseldorf Airport on Friday after the animal hid in her jacket, according to the local fire department. The woman had returned from the Greek island of Kos. Emergency services treated her at the scene before transporting her to a hospital for further care. A reptile expert from the Düsseldorf Fire Department captured the scorpion, which was later taken to a reptile zoo near the state capital. During transport, the woman reported pain at the sting site, comparable to a wasp sting, but remained responsive. Authorities coordinated with a poison control center, the reptile expert, and an emergency physician before transferring her to the university hospital for symptom treatment. No updates on her current condition were provided .
In Bucharest, a woman was bitten twice by the same snake after attempting to remove it to protect it from dogs in her yard in the Chiajna area. She initially described the snake as small and harmless, with a brown, patterned back. The woman handled the snake with her bare hands, prompting it to bite her on one finger, then a second time on her other hand as she tried to free herself. About 15 minutes later, she experienced pain and swelling. She later consulted an AI model to identify the species before seeking medical help.
The woman was admitted to Spitalul Floreasca’s toxicology department, where Dr. Radu Țincu confirmed the snake was a venomous native species, though less toxic than a viper. Țincu stated the patient exhibited local neurotoxicity, nerve-projected pain, and swelling. Treatment has since led to a remission of local symptoms, with doctors expecting full recovery from the toxic effects in the coming days. Țincu warned that a snake’s appearance does not indicate its danger level, noting that venom can cause severe reactions, including intense pain, swelling, bruising, tissue damage, coagulation disorders, bleeding, nausea, dizziness, and low blood pressure .
Meanwhile, French MEP Manon Aubry announced on social media that she was hospitalized after being bitten by a viper, though she did not specify the location. Aubry shared a photo smiling despite describing “complications related to poisoning.” She noted that snakebite risks in Europe remain low, with fewer than 300 cases reported annually in France .
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