An investigation on the first human death incident caused by the bite of red imported fire ants

Objective The investigation was conducted to study a human death incident by the bite of red imported fire ants (RIFA) and to assess the influence of RIFA on local people'S health SO as to provide the scientific basis of the prevention and control of the damage caused by RIFA．Methods The related people of the incident were interviewed．Relative data and documents were reviewed and in-home questionnaire survey was also conducted．Results Among the 59 families in Tianliao Village where the decedent had lived and worked,there were 48 families (81.4％) wim at least one person bitten by RIFA；of the 238 residents investigated，77 (32.4％) were bitten by the RIFA，with 30.8％ for men，and 34.2％for women．The 50-,40-and 60-age group had the highest bitten rate of all．The bitten people were mostly laborer working in the fields and gardens，and the bitten parts of the body Were mainly the extremities (84.0％)．The main symptoms after bitten were usually local pains，itches，redness or swellings．Most of the bitten had mild symptoms not necessary to see a doctor．Conclusions This was a human death incident caused by the aller-gic shock due to the biting by RIFA．It was a common situation for local people to be bitten by RIFA．And RIFA have seriously affected local people'S health and lives．