Overview
- A 52-year-old woman was stung by a scorpion that had hidden in her jacket after returning to Düsseldorf, with officials reporting the incident on Friday evening.
- Airport customs alerted emergency dispatch and first responders treated the woman on site before transferring her to the university hospital after consulting poison-control and a senior doctor.
- The Düsseldorf fire department’s reptile expert captured and identified the animal as a Yellow Mediterranean Scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus), a species known for highly potent venom.
- The captured scorpion was handed over to a nearby reptile zoo, and authorities say there are no other known exposures or signs of a wider public-health threat.
- The episode highlights the risk of accidental importation of dangerous exotic species in luggage or clothing and shows how customs, medical services, poison control, and specialized fire personnel coordinate at ports of entry.