CANBERRA, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Invasive red imported fire ants could cause over 30 deaths every year if allowed to spread across Australia, a report has found.
The report, which was published on Friday by Canberra-based independent think tank the Australia Institute, warned that red imported fire ants (RIFA) could cause significant environmental, social and economic damage in Australia.
It is estimated that RIFA could sting 8.32 million people in Australia every year if allowed to spread across the country, causing 623,693 extra medical visits and 33 deaths from anaphylaxis.
The RIFA was first detected in Australia in 2001 at the Port of Brisbane in the southeast of the state of Queensland, prompting the federal government to establish the National Fire Ant Eradication Program (NFAEP).
Despite efforts to contain the spread of the invasive species, fire ants have since been detected across southeast Queensland and in parts of the neighboring state of New South Wales (NSW).
According to NGO the Invasive Species Council, more than 95 percent of Australia is suitable for RIFA infestation.
The Australia Institute report found that households could spend a combined 1.08 billion Australian dollars (745 million U.S. dollars) a year managing outbreaks and covering related medical and veterinary costs if fire ants become established nationwide.
Additionally, it said that fire ants could reach the Murray-Darling Basin region in southeast Australia by 2035, potentially threatening its 30 billion AUD (20.7 billion USD) agricultural industry.
Australia's federal, state and territory governments committed 592.8 million AUD (408.8 million USD) in combined funding for the 2023-27 Fire Ant Response Plan.
The Australia Institute report called for all governments to boost their funding, citing a separate report that was prepared for the NFAEP in 2021 that estimated it would cost up to 300 million AUD (206.9 million USD) annually for 10 years to eradicate the invasive species in Australia. Enditem
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