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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Environment
Daisy Dumas

Fire ant sting hospitalisations surge post-Cyclone Alfred as reports of first pet death also emerge

Reece Pianta Queensland
Fire ants crawl on crops
The Queensland government has announced a $24m boost to Queensland’s Fire Ant Suppression taskforce, to target 212,000 hectares within the region’s suppression zone over the next two years. Photograph: Lyle Radford

Twenty-three people have been hospitalised with serious fire ant stings amid a surge in reports of the invasive pest in the aftermath of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred and a new $24m package targeting suppression of the insect.

The National Fire Ant Eradication Program has received notifications of 60 serious red imported fire ant (Rifa) stings in south-east Queensland since 1 March, with 23 serious enough to warrant hospital care. Separately, a puppy stung to death 15 months ago was reportedly the first pet killed in Queensland by the ants.

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