As many as three people have lost their lives and more than 450 were injured after a huge swarm of scorpions was swept into the city of Aswan in southern Egypt.

Due to inclement weather, snakes and scorpions are often brought into the streets, but hail, thunder, dust storms and snow seen on Friday was particularly violent.

A spokesperson for the health ministry told Al-Ahram news agency that the rain had washed scorpions and snakes out of their hiding places, caused power cuts, and knocked down lighting columns and trees.

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While hospitals have been put on high alert, extra doses of anti-venom have been provided to medical centres in villages near mountains and deserts.

BBC news stated that some doctors have had to pull away from giving coronavirus vaccinations to treat scorpion stings.

Ashraf Attia, the governor of Aswan, has urged people to stay at home and avoid places with trees. The Egyptian Meteorological Authority has warned residents to expect poor weather for the next 24 hours.

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According to BBC News, Egypt is home to fat-tailed scorpions that are among the deadliest in the world. The venom from this scorpion can kill humans in under an hour and sting symptoms include difficulty breathing, muscle twitching and unusual head movements.

As a preventative measure, the anti-venom can be administered before symptoms arise, but it can also work once symptoms have worsened.

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If stung, Ahmed Rizk, a professor at Agricultural Research Centre, told Al Watan newspaper that people should “tie a piece of cloth firmly near the bite to inhibit the venom from reaching the heart”.

He added that victims should seek medical assistance to get the anti-venom.