A U.S. Postal Service (USPS) worker was hospitalized yesterday after being attacked by a swarm of hornets while delivering mail in suburban Chicago.
The mail carrier was stung between 30 and 50 times near her head and neck in Wheaton, Illinois, according to USPS spokesperson Beverly Howard.
A resident of the area called 911 after hearing screaming. Witnesses speculated that landscapers working nearby may have aggravated the nest and set the hornets in motion.
The worker is expected to recover. Exterminators cleared the hornets from the neighborhood Tuesday.
Howard said the incident serves as a reminder for potential hazards that both homeowners and USPS employees need to be aware of.
“Work with us and keep our carriers safe,” she said.
