Ulsan Ulju Hospital warns of rise in autumn centipede bites
Version 2: A second outlet, Maeil Business, reported the same hospital advisory a day later and added the sex of the patients involved; no new incidents or figures were reported.
In short
Ulsan Ulju Hospital said on Oct 6 that it has seen a series of patients bitten by centipedes as autumn sets in and urged the public to take precautions. The hospital described recent cases, including a man in his 50s bitten on a finger on Oct 4 who was treated in its emergency room, and said September–October is when centipedes move most actively. It advised washing bites with running water and mildly alkaline soap, applying cold compresses, and wearing thick gloves and boots for outdoor work.
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Ulsan Ulju Hospital said on Oct 6 that it has been seeing an increasing number of patients bitten by centipedes as autumn sets in, and asked the public to take precautions, according to Yonhap. The same warning appeared in the headline of a Newsis report, and Maeil Business reported the advisory the following day. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The hospital described several recent cases. On Oct 4, a person in their 50s was bitten on the right finger and went to the emergency room with rapidly rising pain and swelling, then went home safely after emergency treatment for pain control and allergic reaction, Yonhap reported; Maeil Business identified the patient as a man in his 50s. On Sept 8, Yonhap said, a person in their 60s visited the general surgery department three days after being bitten on the left side of the neck and treated at another hospital's emergency room, and received additional medication because redness and pain persisted; Maeil Business said the patient was a woman in her 60s. On Sept 18, a person in their 60s bitten on a left finger came to the general surgery department with pain and received an injection and a prescription, which Maeil Business said involved a man. [ 2 , 3 ]
The hospital said September and October, the change of seasons, is the period when centipedes move most actively, storing nutrients to survive the coming winter and seeking warm, humid places. It said centipedes attack exposed fingers and, during sleep or outdoor work, the neck, causing severe pain and inflammation, and that because their venom is acidic a bite brings sharp pain like a bee sting along with swelling, redness and itching. Maeil Business reported that bites cluster when farm work such as night harvesting and weed removal increases. [ 2 , 3 ]
The hospital advised washing the wound clean with running water and mildly alkaline soap, then applying a cold pack or cold wet towel for about 10 to 15 minutes to ease pain and swelling and slow the spread of toxins. It said folk remedies such as sucking the wound, cutting it with a knife or tying a cord tightly to stop blood flow should be avoided because they can push toxins deeper or cause secondary infection and tissue damage, and that anyone with persistent pain, worsening swelling or any systemic symptoms should go to a nearby emergency room for treatment such as antihistamines or anti-inflammatory painkillers. [ 2 , 3 ]
A hospital official said, “During outdoor work in autumn you must wear thick gloves and boots so that you are not bitten by centipedes and other venomous insects,” adding that keeping home humidity low and carefully sealing drains and gaps around window frames is the surest way to prevent centipedes from entering indoors. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The advisory is a local public-health notice for residents of Ulju, Ulsan, where farm and garden work brings people into contact with centipedes in autumn. The guidance concentrates on first aid and prevention; the documents give no indication of deaths or of a wider public-health emergency.
Key facts
- Ulsan Ulju Hospital said on Oct 6 that centipede bite cases have been increasing this autumn and asked the public to take care. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The hospital said bites occurred during night harvesting, weed removal and yard clearing, and that September–October is the season when centipedes move most actively to store nutrients for winter and seek warm, humid places. [ 2 , 3 ]
- On Oct 4, a person in their 50s was bitten on the right finger and went to the hospital's emergency room with rapidly rising pain and swelling, then went home after emergency treatment. [ 2 , 3 ]
- A person in their 60s visited the general surgery department on Sept 8 after being bitten on the left side of the neck three days earlier and received additional medication; on Sept 18 another person in their 60s, bitten on a left finger, received an injection and medication. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The hospital advised washing the wound with running water and mildly alkaline soap and applying cold compresses for 10 to 15 minutes, and warned against sucking the wound, cutting it with a knife or tying it tightly. [ 2 , 3 ]
- A hospital official said people doing outdoor work in autumn should wear thick gloves and boots, and that keeping indoor humidity low and sealing drains and window gaps is the surest way to keep centipedes out. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Ulsan Ulju Hospital reported a series of autumn centipede bite cases and urged the public to take precautions, as carried in the headline of a Newsis report and in the reports by Yonhap and Maeil Business. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The hospital reported a bite case on Oct 4 involving a person in their 50s bitten on the right finger who was treated in its emergency room and went home. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The hospital reported earlier cases on Sept 8, involving a bite to the left side of the neck, and on Sept 18, involving a bite to a left finger. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The hospital said September and October is the period when centipedes are most active, and that bites cause pain like a bee sting along with swelling, redness and itching. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The hospital advised washing the wound, applying cold compresses for 10 to 15 minutes, avoiding folk remedies such as sucking or cutting the wound, and wearing thick gloves and boots outdoors. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- How many centipede bite patients the hospital has treated in total this autumn. The hospital gave individual case examples but no aggregate figures.
- Whether the readable article text from one outlet contains any additional details beyond its headline. The readable article text from that outlet did not match its headline and concerned an unrelated matter, so only the headline could be used for this event.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Sept 8, 2026: a person in their 60s visits the general surgery department after being bitten on the left side of the neck three days earlier and receiving treatment at another hospital's emergency room, and is given additional medication. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Sept 18, 2026: a person in their 60s bitten on a left finger visits the general surgery department and receives an injection and medication. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Oct 4, 2026: a person in their 50s bitten on the right finger goes to the emergency room with pain and swelling, receives emergency treatment and goes home. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Newsis publishes a report that Ulju Hospital is warning about a series of autumn centipede bites (Oct 6, 2026). [ 1 ]
- Yonhap publishes the hospital's advisory, citing individual cases, treatment guidance and prevention advice (Oct 6, 2026). [ 2 ]
- Maeil Business publishes its report on the same advisory, including the case details and prevention advice (Oct 7, 2026). [ 3 ]