Wasp attack during dengue drive sends seven children to hospital

Seven schoolchildren and two mothers were admitted to the Kotmale regional hospital after being attacked by wasps during a dengue prevention program at Gamini Dissanayake National School in Kotmale on June 19. The incident occurred when a wasp nest, tied to a tree within the school premises, was disturbed.

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Seven schoolchildren and two mothers were admitted to the Kotmale regional hospital after a wasp nest tied to a tree on the school grounds was disturbed during a dengue eradication program today.

The community work program was organized on school grounds. During the event, the wasp nest was agitated, leading to the attack on the children and parents. Emergency services, including the 1990 Suwaseriya ambulance service, transported the injured to the hospital.

Local police officers, parents, and teachers collaborated to manage the situation. They lit a bonfire and used smoke to disperse the wasps, bringing the immediate threat under control. The police station chief, Inspector Indika Lalith, confirmed the details of the incident and the response.

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The injured were sent to the hospital via 1990 Suwaseriya.

While the immediate danger has been addressed, the incident highlights the unexpected risks that can arise during community activities, even those aimed at public health and safety. The focus now shifts to the recovery of those injured and ensuring such incidents are prevented in the future.

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Police officers from Kotmale, parents, and teachers at the school worked together to light a bonfire and use smoke to control the situation.