Highly toxic ants attack many residential areas

Cam Le district medical staff sprayed chemicals to kill ants at CT03 apartment building, Hoa Tho Dong ward - Photo: TRUONG TRUNG

On September 29, Ms. Ong Thi Thuy, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hoa Tho Dong Ward, Cam Le District, Da Nang City, said that the ward's medical staff had sprayed chemicals in many residential areas with three-cavity ants.

According to Ms. Thuy, over the past few days, the ward has continuously received information about the appearance of three-compartment ants in residential areas and apartment buildings. Many people have had their skin blistered due to contact with ants or objects containing ant toxins.

“The ward has sprayed chemicals in residential areas where there are three-cavity ants. At the same time, the people are informed about proactive measures to prevent and how to handle ant nests when they appear,” said Ms. Thuy.

Three-cavity ants appeared in residential areas in Hoa Tho Dong ward in recent days - Photo: TRUONG TRUNG

According to records, in Hoa Tho Dong ward, ants appear sporadically in many apartment buildings such as 2A, CT03, CT04, CT05, CT07... and some surrounding residential areas, especially when the weather changes, ants often appear in houses at night.

Mr. Tran Dung, a resident of apartment building CT03, said that at one point he discovered more than 20 ants flying into his bedroom.

According to him, this residential area is near the riverbank, where there are many vegetable fields being cultivated, so in previous years there were still ants at the beginning of the rainy season. However, it has never appeared as densely as it did recently.

“My family had to move their sleeping place and wash the blankets because we were afraid that the ants’ toxins might still stick to our skin and eyes. The whole apartment building was in chaos because every house had ants, and many residents had to keep ointments in their homes just in case,” said Mr. Dung.

Avoid contact and rubbing with ants

The black-orange ant (also known as the black-orange ant, the needle ant, the sedge ant) is a flying insect with alternating black and orange stripes. The black-orange ant usually lives in rice fields, rotten grass, gardens, and garbage dumps. When the weather changes, the black-orange ant often flies into the house following the light.

The three-cavity ant has a strong toxin called pederin. However, because the amount of contact is small, it mainly causes skin burns, blisters, and ulcers.

Doctors recommend that when encountering ants, absolutely do not crush or rub them to avoid releasing toxins.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/kien-ba-khoang-co-doc-tinh-manh-tan-cong-nhieu-khu-dan-cu-20240929105308159.htm