Since the beginning of May, there have been many incidents of RIFA wounding people across the country. According to media reports, on May 6, the staff of Rongjiang New District, Ganzhou, Jiangxi received many calls from the masses to report that there were RIFAs in various villages and fields, and people were hurt.
Red fire ant, which means “invincible ant” in Latin America, native to South America , is recognized as one of the 100 most dangerous invasive species in the world. The red fire ant is similar in size to ordinary ants, with a transparent dark red body and a black tail. From May to November every year, RIFA enters a period of frequent activity one after another, often appearing in green belts along sidewalks, public green spaces, and river embankments.
01
Identifying RIFA Nests
During this period, there has been a “camping tide” in many places, especially places such as riversides or parks, which are the first choice for many people, but from an environmental point of view, these places are also RIFAs. favorite.
The RIFA has a strong sense of territory and aggression, and will take the initiative to “call friends and friends” to attack creatures that interfere with their nests.
For non-professionals, there are 3 ways to identify RIFA.
1
Identified by the appearance of the nest
RIFA nests are raised on the ground, mound-like mounds, honeycomb-like inside, and generally Ant nests do not swell.
2
Identified by whether it is aggressive
RIFA has strong aggressiveness and can be inserted into the ant nest with a stick. If it is RIFA, it will rapidly swarm Out of the ant nest to attack.
3
Identify according to the symptoms after being stung
After being stung by RIFA, there is usually a tingling and burning sensation at the sting site , with blisters and pustules. There are also a small number of people who are allergic to the toxin proteins in the venom of red fire ants, resulting in anaphylactic shock and even the risk of death.
02
Which sites are infested by RIFA
The main damage areas of RIFA involve rural farmland, woodland, grassland, parks, campuses, highway green belts, tourist attractions, rivers and reservoirs, dams and urban and rural garbage dumps, hillsides, golf Fields such as golf courses, the periphery of country houses and other open and sunny places.
03
Harm of RIFA
RIFA is a typical carnivore and has “five evils”: likes to attack, likes to bite, eats seeds, stings animals, and drills electric boxes. Invasive red fire ants often bring serious ecological disasters to the invaded areas, and are the enemy of biodiversity conservation and agricultural production. Lu Yongyue, director of the RIFA Research Center of South China Agricultural University, introduced in an interview that RIFA can not only build nests in infrastructure, causing short circuits or facility failures, but also attack with the palate, and sting people and animals with needles at the end of the abdomen. And release venom, this venom includes water-soluble protein, formic acid, alkaloids, etc., which makes people feel burn-like pain after being stinged, and then blisters and pus appear. The RIFA Research Center of South China Agricultural University reminds that if a suspected RIFA is found, firstly, keep away from it and avoid interfering with it to prevent being stung; secondly, report to the local agriculture bureau or landscaping department in time, so that professionals can identify it. and kill it.
04
The threat to human health of RIFA
RIFA is very aggressive and it is subject to Not only will they not escape after being disturbed, but they will also produce extremely strong group aggression, injecting venom into the victim’s skin through stings. After being bitten by RIFA, the following symptoms will appear:
There will be red spots, blisters, hard swelling, and burning pain.
Blisters can cause bacterial infections if they burst.
People with allergies may have allergic reactions, which can seriously lead to shock or death.
On October 20, 2004, the first fatal case of RIFA was reported in Taoyuan, Taiwan, my country. On July 20, 2018, a man in Nanning, Guangxi, was bitten by red fire ants. He went home without seeking medical attention in time. After returning home, he fell into a coma. In March 2020, Ms. Wen, a citizen of Nanning, was walking her dog on the grass by the river. She was bitten by red fire ants and had difficulty breathing. Fortunately, she was sent to the hospital in time and rescued.
CCTV has reported that in dozens of villages, including Wupu Town, Wenchang County, Hainan, in recent years, the outbreak of RIFA has caused serious damage to people and crops. Several or even dozens of people were stung and taken to hospital for medical treatment or hospitalization. Many peasants have no longer dared to farm, and a large number of farmland and farmland have been abandoned.
05
Prevention and treatment of RIFA stings
How to prevent RIFA injuries?
1. If suspicious RIFA anthills are found, use obvious signs to mark suspicious anthills, and immediately report to the relevant management department, and transfer it to professional technicians Red fire ants are controlled. Do not carry out personal control, and do not stay and move for a long time in the RIFA-infested area.
2. strengthen personal protection and bring theGloves, long water shoes, long-sleeved tops, trousers, socks and high water shoes, and the outer circumference of the shoes can be coated with petroleum jelly or talcum powder.
3. Once stinged by RIFA, wash with soapy water or water first, then apply Pikang cream or dermatitis etc. Medication to relievedo not scratch the wound to avoid breaking the pustular infection.
4. If a large area of erythema, rash, etc. appears after being stung by RIFA, oral antihistamines can be administered under the guidance of a doctor. Treatment;Severe allergic reactions (such as generalized itching, urticaria, redness and swelling of the face, difficulty breathing, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, etc.) should be treated in a regular medical institution as soon as possible.
What should I do after being bitten by RIFA?
1. Wash the bitten area with soapy water.
2. Do not scratch the wound and keep the wound clean.
3. Ice.
4. If the reaction is severe after being bitten, seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Luan Zhaolin, Guan Zhongyao
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