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Research Review: Deadly Force
1 May, 2006 By: Paul J. Bello Pest Management ProfessionalFire ants sting millions every year, triggering lawsuits, health issues and death in some cases
The Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA) entered the United States through the port of Mobile, Ala., sometime during the late 1920s to early 1930s, carried in soil used as ballast in ships from South America.
 Round mounds of soil may indicate a Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA) infestation. |
Since then, the RIFA has spread across the southern United States to areas well beyond earlier predictions, and now is found from Carolina to California. It is estimated that the RIFA currently inhabits more than 300 million acres in the United States today, roughly a landmass nearly twice the size of Texas.
The rounded mounds of soil rising about 12 or more inches high seen on roadsides, pastures and open land are common sites nearly everywhere the RIFA is found. Despite growing RIFA infestations and related legal and health problems, pest management professionals (PMPs) and home and business owners still have quite a bit to learn and do to protect themselves and others from the potentially deadly force of the RIFA and myriad other fire ant types.
 People should be careful where they step, even when they're near the street. |
Fire ant stings are dangerous because of the venom injected into the victim that causes pain, swelling and other local affects plus the possible severity of the individual's allergic reaction. This reaction may be so severe that victims might suffer sweating, slurred speech, chest pain, shortness of breath, swelling, nausea, vomiting and anaphylactic shock. Death can occur in sensitive individuals, including the very young or elderly. One source reports that fire ants sting as many as 14 million people each year, and anaphylaxis may occur in up to 6 percent of these individuals.
While most may agree that the number of serious fire ant cases are relatively few, the historical record indicates that the incidence of these cases may be growing and worthy of the pest management industry's full attention.
 Red Imported Fire Ants first came to the United States in the 1920s and 1930s. |
In recent years, there have been at least six documented serious fire ant-related cases associated with assisted living healthcare facilities, with four resulting in victim fatality and two resulting in serious injury. Additionally, there have been at least five fatalities that have occurred inresidential settings, and untold others resulting in varying degree of injury and requiring medical attention.
RAISING AWARENESS
Ask a group of Southerners about fire ants, and one will find most have had first-hand experience dealing with this stinging insect. While many Southerners may say they know all about fire ants, the results of a survey of consumers in the South demonstrates a clear need for updating and re-educating the public regarding these pests.
 Fire Ant Awareness |
We questioned individuals who were exiting local grocery stores and other shopping venues located in the suburban North Metro Atlanta area. We asked these people several yes/no questions regarding fire ants to ascertain what they knew about fire ants.
When questioned "Are you familiar with fire ants?" all respondents answered that they are. This was not surprising given that 74 percent of the respondents have lived in the South for five years or more. Certainly, with this percentage of respondents living in the South at least five years, we might assume that they would have learned about fire ants the hard way — either by first-hand experience or knowing someone else who had been stung.
 Fire ant stings are dangerous because the venom injected into the victim causes pain, swelling and other localized effects, as well contains the potential for an allergic reaction. |
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