Death toll from China hornet attacks reaches 41

The death toll from a spate of hornet attacks in central China has risen to 41.

Around 1,600 people have been injured in Shaanxi province, and 37 of them are in critical or serious condition in hospitals.

Experts believe the culprits to be the Asian giant hornet, which can grow to 5cm long, with a 6mm sting.

The highly toxic stings can lead to anaphylactic shock and kidney failure.

The provincial government has mobilised a special medical team and trained more personnel to treat victims.

Victims have described being chased for hundreds of metres and stung as many as 200 times.

Most of the attacks in the past three months were in remote, rural, wooded areas in southern Shaanxi.

Hornets mate and migrate in September and October when they are most aggressive. Experts have suggested that warmer temperatures in the area have led to hornets breeding more successfully and that labourers have been moving deeper into areas where they may disturb nests.