Scorpion Stings Passenger at Boston Airport

A female passenger at Boston Logan International Airport was stung by a scorpion and hospitalized while retrieving her bags at baggage claim following a flight from Mexico on March 2. 

According to ABC News, the incident happened around 7:30 p.m. on Sunday at Boston Logan’s Terminal E baggage claim. The passenger had grabbed her bags and been stung by a scorpion on her finger. 

Boston EMS was called to the scene and took her to a nearby hospital for treatment. 

It’s likely the scorpion made its way to the airport from her own flight, which began in Mexico, or a different one, as scorpions are not native to Boston. There are over 2,000 species of predatory arachnids in the world, including scorpions. 

While most are not deadly, stings can be extremely painful. Victims are encouraged to get a preventative tetanus vaccine. Younger children are at an increased risk for developing neurologic symptoms requiring medical care. 

“Scorpions can be found on every continent except Antarctica but are most commonly seen in subtropical and tropical areas of the world,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states. “Scorpion stings often cause intense pain and redness, but venom from some species can cause severe illness, affecting the heart, nervous system, and other organs. Manifestations include agitation, arrhythmias, bleeding and other coagulation disorders, pancreatitis, uncontrollable muscle spasms, shock, and even death.”

It is unclear what species of scorpion stung the woman at the airport or what happened to it following her emergency ride to the hospital. There are also no updates as to the woman’s condition. 

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