Fire ants: a continuing community health threat in South Carolina.

Imported fire ants are now firmly established in all 46 counties of South Carolina. In 1998 there were an estimated 660,000 cases in the state of which approximately 33,000 sought medical treatment at an estimated cost of 2.4 million dollars. Residents and visitors are at risk for IFA attacks that may occur indoors as well as outdoors. While IFA sting victims in endemic areas of the state may be less likely to seek medical treatment, patients in recently infested areas seem to be more likely to seek treatment since they are relatively unfamiliar with the multiple, painful IFA stings and pustules. Citizens need to control IFA infestations around and within their homes according to guidelines recommended by the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service. Regional IFA control programs were discontinued in the past because of costs and environmental chemical concerns. Obviously, we need to support ongoing research aimed at developing improved and safe strategies for the local and regional control of IFA.