A ten-year old Main Street Elementary School student was hospitalized at
Children's Hospital Monday after being stung numerous times by swarming red fire ants. The
youngster, identified by hospital officials as Johnny B. Goode, was rushed by paramedics
to the hospital where he is listed in stable condition.
The boy was attacked by an aggressive species of fire ant called the Red Imported Fire
Ant, known by the initials RIFA. The ants apparently moved into their new hole only
recently, most likely migrating from a neighboring plant nursery. Vector control officers
investigating the attack found several more ant hills within the nursery grounds.
The school principal, Alvin Lee, said that the boy was investigating a recently created
ant hill on the school grounds with classmates when the attack occurred. Students who
witnessed the attack told Lee that Johnny was poking at the ants and their hill with a
stick when the ants suddenly swarmed, stinging the youngster on the hands and arms.
Paramedic James Page, who treated Goode at the scene, alerted county vector control
agents and State University entomologist Tracy Chapman because of the unusual nature of
the attack. Chapman confirmed that the ants in question are the Red Imported Fire Ants.
This particular species is extremely aggressive when disturbed. They had not been
previously detected in this area according to Chapman and the vector control agents.
Local officials expressed concern for the apparent infestation of RIFA as this species
has caused damage to crops and equipment and is responsible for deaths of small animals
and people who unwittingly disturbed the ant hills