How to deal with highly toxic ants appearing in the house?

The body of the three-compartment ant contains Pederin, a highly toxic substance even in very small amounts - Photo; TRUONG TRUNG

On October 1, the Cam Le District Health Department, Da Nang City, said it had sent leaflets to residential areas with instructions on how to prevent ants.

Previously, many houses in the district were densely populated with ants, affecting people's lives. The unit and medical staff sprayed chemicals on a large scale in many residential areas where ants were present.

According to the Cam Le District Health Department, it is currently the breeding season, ants often fly out of their shelters and gather around lights at night. Therefore, many houses in the area, especially those near agricultural areas, have many three-cavity ants.

According to recommendations, the three-compartment ant does not bite or sting when in contact with humans. However, the ant’s body contains Pederin, a toxic substance that causes blisters and burns on the skin. Although the amount of contact is very small, it still leaves great damage due to its high toxicity.

Blisters caused by ants - Photo: TRUONG TRUNG

Pederin is not actively secreted by ants, but only exists in the ant's body. When the body is crushed, this substance is released into the environment.

"When Pederin gets on human skin, especially young skin and sensitive skin, these areas will blister, burn, and hurt. It can even cause dermatitis if the wound is not properly cared for and can cause infection, making the wound worse" - a representative of the Cam Le District Health Department warned.

Previously, as Tuoi Tre Online reported, in Hoa Tho Dong ward, three-compartment ants appeared sporadically in many apartment buildings such as 2A, CT03, CT04, CT05, CT07... and some surrounding residential areas.

Many people have blisters on their skin because of contact with ants or objects containing ant toxins.

Spraying chemicals in residential areas where ants appeared in Da Nang - Photo: TRUONG TRUNG

Cover the light to attract ants

Cam Le District Health Department recommends that if you find ants falling or crawling on your skin, you should not kill them with your hands, but blow them away to avoid getting their secretions on your skin.

Because ants are often attracted to light, when living or working under the light, you need to close the door or install insect screens in areas with vented windows. At the same time, put up curtains to block out light that attracts ants.

If you discover that you have just come into contact with ant secretions, quickly wash the contact area under running water. If you feel pain or burning on your skin, use a soothing, mild antiseptic solution such as Jarish solution or antibiotic ointment and then go to a medical facility for further treatment.

For cramped housing areas such as dormitories or worker housing areas near industrial zones, near places with lots of grass, bushes, and newly harvested fields, it is necessary to clean the environment, collect rotten trees and dry grass and burn them to repel insects.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/xu-ly-the-nao-khi-kien-ba-khoang-co-doc-tinh-cao-xuat-hien-trong-nha-20241001182319269.htm