If the destruction left in the wake of Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina wasn’t enough, now emergency responders face yellow jackets and bees whose underground nests were disturbed by the storm.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has had to buy Benadryl and epinephrine to meet increasing hospital demand for treating those allergic to stings, humanitarian aid group Direct Relief told The Associated Press.
Direct Relief is a hurricane preparedness organization active in 50 states and over 80 countries, according to its website.
The organization said it has sent over 2,000 EpiPen injections to community health centers across the western region of the state.
“With every disaster, we get requests for EpiPens, but this one is definitely an outlier,” said Alycia Clark, Direct Relief’s chief pharmacy officer.
The majority of the people getting stung are the crew members, such as electricians, working outside to restore infrastructure.
A spokesperson for the state health department said pharmacists can provide emergency refills for those who are prescribed while officials are working on a plan that would allow people to buy injections without a prescription.
While most insect bites and sting symptoms result in mild itching, swelling, and stinging, some stings, such as those from fire ants, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, and bees, can lead to anaphylaxis, a more severe allergic reaction, the Mayo Clinic said.
Experts recommend wearing smooth light-colored clothing that covers the skin and refraining from using scented bath products to avoid getting stung.
According to Direct Relief, recovery and relief efforts continue to pour in after the storm made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Florida on Sept. 6, bringing in 140 mph winds, heavy rain, floods, and destructive debris.
There are reports of up to 170 deaths and hundreds more missing.
Critical infrastructure has been destroyed, Direct Relief said.
Public health emergencies have been declared in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina as over 1.2 million people are without power.
Direct Relief said it’s making available $74 million in medical care and $250,000 in financial assistance to community health centers while its staff on ground zero works with state officials to “assess damages, identify priority needs, and respond to requests for emergency medical aid.”
The organization has sent out 14 shipments of antibiotics, DTap vaccines, hygiene kits, oral rehydration kits, and other health care products requested by local agencies.
“In addition, through its ongoing support, Direct Relief maintains an extensive network of 276 health partners in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee,” the organization said. “During the previous five years, Direct Relief has mobilized more than 28,000 shipments comprising more than $561 million in essential medicines, medical supplies, and medical equipment for these health partners.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
