Bee sting causes a healthy 63-year-old Air Force veteran from West Virginia to die

BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — A second person is reported as having died due to a bee sting in Raleigh County, West Virginia

Although, this time, the victim did not have a known allergy to the insects.

So, how did this happen?

Diane Tyson was a healthy 63-year-old Air Force veteran from Raleigh County.

As an avid lover of the outdoors, she had been stung countless times by bees, wasps, and yellow jackets throughout her life – all without anything other than a minor reaction, according to her friend and licensed Emergency Medical Technician Paula Johnson.

So, why then, on July 7, 2024 did a single bee sting on her right thumb ultimately lead to her death?

Johnson said the situation feels unreal.

“It just doesn’t make sense to me that someone, at the age of 63, who was so healthy, you know, would have this type of response without having some sort of middle ground where she was progressing in her allergic reaction.” said Johnson.

Johnson said that Tyson stopped breathing within half an hour and passed away three days later on July 10th at Raleigh General Hospital.

What caused this severe reaction though?

Dr. Justin Douglas, an Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist with Beckley Appalachian Regional Healthcare, said the progression could have been immediate.

“Anytime that someone develops a severe reaction there’s a couple of rules that apply. So, the number one is they have to have been stung at least one time in the past by a stinging insect,” said Dr. Douglas. “And it’s usually the second sting that they use to determine whether or not they’re gonna have a severe reaction. If at first, when they were stung the first time, they just had a localization reaction, the second time, usually, is where it becomes a severe reaction.”

Dr. Douglas said there are some signs to look out for in order to gauge the type of reaction you might have.

“The truth of the matter is that we can develop an allergy to anything, at any time. But the things that I ask people to look for…if you’re stung on the leg and then, all of a sudden, your throat starts feeling like it’s starting to be tight, itchy, swollen, you’re having a little bit of trouble breathing, then you ought to think this is a systemic reaction,” said Dr. Douglas.

Systemic reactions are reactions that have widespread symptoms, like trouble breathing, swelling, or fever.

Localized reactions are the least severe and include redness or minor swelling around the area stung.

Dr. Douglas recommends keeping a watchful eye on your body’s responses.

He also said if you have a known allergy to anything, to always have your EpiPen close at hand.

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