'Like a hot needle': Woman stung by scorpion while collecting her bags at Boston airport
A 40-year-old woman is being treated at a Boston hospital after getting stung by a scorpion at Logan Airport, according to Massachusetts State Police.
Boston EMS confirmed it responded to Terminal E just after 7:30 p.m. Sunday for a report that a woman was stung by a scorpion.
The incident happened as the woman was collecting her bags after flying back from Mexico, EMS said.
It’s unclear where the arachnid came from. State police wouldn't say if the scorpion was captured, killed, or still crawling around Terminal E.
"It's a bug. It's probably hiding somewhere. I'd be concerned if I was the night crew when it will come out, but I wouldn't be too concerned about it now," traveler Andrew Davies said.
Carlos Santibanez, an assistant professor at Western Connecticut State University who specializes in studying scorpions, explained what it feels like to be stung.
"Like a hot needle gets into your skin," he said.
Santibanez has been stung several times himself and says while some species can be deadly, most are not. But people here should still be alert.
"Yes, definitely. They will have to be on the alert, especially if they need to, you know, if something falls onto the ground and they need to pick it up," he said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a scorpion sting or bite can cause mild discomfort or pain, which usually subside within 48 hours.
Most scorpions live in dry, desert areas, most commonly in the southern and southwestern United States, the CDC said. Some species can be found in grasslands, forests and inside caves.
Santibanez said there are more than 2,000 scorpion species globally, and only about 60 of those species are deadly. He also said he doesn't expect Logan's scorpion to survive very long if – it is still alive – because of the cold.
