Hello, everyone.
This is Enta.
Most of our work takes place in the mountains on a daily basis.
You can find some of them in the city, too.
So, it looks like something is about to happen that could be added to the list of anticipated natural disasters and workplace accidents.
It's been in the news a lot lately.
FireAnt (Fire Ant)
It's a fire ant!!!
Here’s a quick overview of the symptoms and precautions to take if you get stung by this creature, so please keep this in the back of your mind.
Symptoms
The main component of the red imported fire ant's venom is a toxin called "solenopsin," which is an alkaloid—a basic organic compound containing nitrogen.
In mild cases
Severe pain
A blister forms at the site of the sting, making it feel as if it were filled with water.
A boil forms
・24 hours later: A small pool of white pus forms.
・Within one week: The abscess bursts.
・One month later: The swelling subsides, leaving a small scar.
In the worst-case scenario
Symptoms of Anaphylaxis
・Shortness of breath
・Low blood pressure
・Heart palpitations
・Death
Red imported fire ant venom also contains various other proteins, including phospholipase and hyaluronidase, which are common components of bee venom.
If you have an allergic reaction to this protein, it can trigger anaphylaxis, a systemic allergic reaction.
If you have a bee allergy, just as with a bee sting, failure to take appropriate action promptly can be fatal.
People with bee venom allergies need to be especially careful. In the United States, about 1,500 cases of allergic reactions to red fire ant venom are reported each year.
Copied from the "Health & Medicine" section of ALLAbout
Management and Treatment
- Rest and monitor your condition for any changes.
- Apply pressure while cooling
- Rinse the sting site with soapy water.
- If you have an EpiPen (an adrenaline auto-injector), use it.
- If your symptoms seem to be getting worse, go to the hospital immediately.
- Take an antihistamine (such as Allegra or other anti-allergy medications), or
Use hydrocortisone cream (such as Terra-Cortril ointment or other creams for dermatitis).
EpiPen
I just found out for the first time while doing some research that there seems to be a product called EpiPen.
However, since this is, of course, a medical product, a doctor’s prescription is required, so it is unclear at this time whether it can generally be used in the field.
Next Steps
If you are stung by a fire ant while out in the field, stop what you're doing immediately.
Next, I'll contact the city office.
The same applies if you find a red fire ant nest.
I suppose there's no stopping these ants... (At least, that's what I think.)
Attack of the Fire Ants...
Apparently, if you spot this nest, you can get rid of the pests using boiling water or insecticide.
However, if possible, I think it would be best to report it to the authorities and then leave it to the professionals.
Please be very careful, everyone.
See you later.
