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Incident Record

More than 20 students and staff stung in bee swarm attack at Valley Union High School

A swarm attacked more than 20 students and several staff members, including the elementary school principal, at adjacent Valley Union High and Elfrida Elementary. Removal specialists estimated over 100,000 bees in the hive and described the colony as unusually aggressive; both schools were briefly evacuated. No one required hospitalization.

Record ID: AZ-COCHISE-2024-0826
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This record is part of a first-pass incident research dataset. Records, categories, and source notes may be updated as additional information is reviewed and verified.
Date 8/26/2024
Location Elfrida, AZ (Valley Union High School / Elfrida Elementary), Cochise County, AZ
State AZ
Record Type Attack / Stinging Incident
Trigger / Activity Public Location / School / Event
Severity Multiple Stung / No Hospitalization
Bee ID Status Reported Africanized
Aggression Classification Severe defensive attack

Incident Summary

A swarm attacked more than 20 students and several staff members, including the elementary school principal, at adjacent Valley Union High and Elfrida Elementary. Removal specialists estimated over 100,000 bees in the hive and described the colony as unusually aggressive; both schools were briefly evacuated. No one required hospitalization.

Public-Safety Lesson

School-ground incidents can involve many students and staff quickly. Evacuation, keeping children away from the colony area, and professional removal are the right public-safety response.

Impact Flags

Human Fatality No
Human Hospitalized No
Animal Fatality No
Responder Involved Yes - Professional Bee Removal ('Killer Bee Guys')

Source Information

Source: KOLD

Source Strength: B - Local news