Florida Bee Swarm: Three Men Hospitalized After Attempting To Take Honey From Large Hive

Three men in the Tampa Bay, Florida-area were taken to the hospital this week with bee stings after disturbing a hive that housed 20,000 to 30,000 bees, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The three men, who were stung about 50 times each, were attempting to take honey from a hive of domesticated honey bees, according to 10 News.

The Pasco County Fire Rescue was called after the men encountered the swarm of bees in New Port Richey before noon on Sunday as they were attempting to take honey from the hive, according to 10 News. A woman who came outside here home was stung about a dozen times as well, but was not seriously injured.

"They were covered in bees, their beards, their hair, their clothes. ... Bees were everywhere," said neighbor Tom Johnson to 10 News. Johnson said the firefighters doused the four with their fire hose to attempt to get the bees off of them. Workers came out to clear the scene and dismantle the hive on Monday.

Being stung more than a dozen times can induce a toxic reaction and make a person quite sick, with possible symptoms including headaches, vertigo, feeling faint or fainting, convulsions, fever, and nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, according to the Mayo Clinic.