High prevalence of sensitization to bumblebee venom among greenhouse workers

Bumblebees are commonly used in Europe and North America to pollinate vegetable crops, especially tomatoes grown in greenhouses. Bumblebees only sting when provoked, making field stings uncommon. In case series from hospital registers, greenhouse work and scientific work involving bumblebees have been associated with severe bumblebee venom allergy, which is otherwise considered rare, although its prevalence in the general population or workplace cohorts is poorly known.1