FACTS

1. Infectious insects such as mosquitoes and ticks have the potential to be carriers of devastating diseases. One simple bite may transfer a disease-causing agent, such as a parasite, bacterium, or virus. The infected individual may experience general malaise with non-specific symptoms ranging from mild to severe.
2. The health effects of stinging or biting insects or scorpions range from mild discomfort or pain to a lethal reaction for those workers allergic to the insect’s venom.
3. Anaphylactic shock is the body’s severe allergic reaction to a bite or sting and requires immediate emergency care. Thousands of people are stung by insects each year.
4. Outdoor workers, such as laborers, truck drivers, groundskeepers, and farm workers, were among the workers most frequently victims of nonfatal insect and arachnid injuries and illnesses. But so were some indoor workers, including machine operators, janitors, nurses’ aides and orderlies, and even cashiers.
5. Symptoms and signs of anaphylaxis can include:

• Swelling of the face, throat or tongue
• Difficulty breathing
• Dizziness or fainting
• Stomach cramps
• Nausea or diarrhea
• Itchiness and hives over large areas of the body

STATS

• Although not often associated with injuries and deaths at the workplace, insects, arachnids, and mites were involved in 83 fatal occupational injuries.
• The majority of these workplace deaths were due to bee stings. Annual nonfatal work-related injury and illness case counts involving insects, arachnids, and mites that led to days away from work ranged from 4,930 to 6,870.
• Thousands of people are stung by insects each year 90–100 people in the U.S die as a result of allergic reactions.
• An average of 10 fatal occupational injuries per year involving insects were recorded.
• Bees were the most common insect involved, with 52 fatal occupational injuries.
• 11 workers were killed in wasp-related incidents including three incidents involving yellow jackets.
• Insect-related deaths were most commonly associated with three types of jobs: farming, construction, and landscaping. A total of 20 farmers and farm workers were killed during the 8-year period. Construction occupations (19), landscaping workers (17), and farmers and farm workers accounted for two thirds of the deaths.
• 2017, a total of 1,109 deaths from hornet, wasp, and bee stings occurred, for an annual average of 62 deaths. Deaths ranged from a low of 43 in 2001 to a high of 89 in 2017. Approximately 80% of the deaths were among males.