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AAP
AAP
Environment
Tracey Ferrier

Fire ants could cost 'half a COVID' every year

United States Australia Cancer New South Wales
Southeast Queensland has had fire ants since 2001 but they've recently been found in northern NSW. (Dept. Of Primary Industries/AAP PHOTOS)

Australia could lose 2.8 per cent of its GDP to fire ants - the equivalent of "half a COVID" each and every year, biosecurity analysts have warned.

The government-funded Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis has offered a new estimate of the hit Australia will take if the super pest is allowed to spread unhindered.

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