Bee sting twice as likely to land Australians in hospital than encounter with venomous wildlife

Study finds five in 100,000 Australians taken to hospital for bee and wasp stings, twice the rate for spiders and snakes

Australia is home to the 11 most venomous snakes in the world, the deadliest spider in the world, and some of the most venomous marine life. And yet according to a study released on Wednesday, Australians are twice as likely end up in hospital because of a bee or wasp sting than an encounter with any other venomous creature.

The study by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare examined hospital records from 2017-2018 for reports of people being admitted to hospital - not just treated in the emergency department - after contact with a venomous creature.