Yellowjackets sting about 40 students at Ashland, Massachusetts school. "Difficult way to start our first day."
Yellowjackets stung dozens of students on the first day of school in Ashland, Massachusetts Wednesday, the superintendent said.
As children got off the bus at David Mindess Elementary School just after 9 a.m., someone or something disturbed an underground nest near the end of the bus loop.
Ashland Superintendent Jim Adams told WBZ-TV "around 40 students" and two staff members were stung.
"Many bees traveled into the school building," he said in a statement. The fire department later clarified that the stings were from yellowjackets.
It was so bad the fire department and two ambulances were sent in to help the school nurse and staff. Adams said every student who was stung was treated and their families were called.
"Thankfully, there were no severe reactions, and all students are doing well," he said.
Fifth grade student Akshara Nair was stung on her ear, head and leg.
"Once they started attacking everyone I was trying to run to the exit and they started following," Nair said. "It felt like a zap but even more painful."
Adams said recess would be indoors Wednesday as a precaution. The area where the nest was found was sealed off with police tape and orange cones. Ashland Fire Chief Keith Robie said an exterminator was brought in to get rid of the nest.
"We put an immediate plan in place to fix the situation and remove the nest," Adams said. "This was undoubtedly a difficult way to start our first day. Still, thankfully, due to the assistance from our community partners, we have rectified the issue and are moving forward to what will undoubtedly be a positive year."
Robie said it was a "shocking" incident for firefighters to respond to.
"It was definitely a shocking number to have at once. Like I said, they were all inside. Most of them had localized reactions. We had a couple students, probably four to five stings. Appears that they were getting off the bus, disturbed a nest, and the bees got into their clothing," the fire chief said.
The fire department said anyone with known allergies should carry an epinephrine auto-injector and make the school aware of their condition.
Maria Wentworth, a mother and teacher, said she's glad the situation wasn't worse.
"We're glad there were no bad reactions, the kids are so okay, they all left with smiles," Wentworth said.
Ashland is about 25 miles west of Boston and is the second town along the Boston Marathon route.
WBZ-TV's Aaron Parseghian contributed to this story.