‘Completely anaphylactic’: Government under fire as deadly pest spreads in Aussie backyards
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Warning: This article contains graphic images that some readers may find distressing.
The presence of invasive species can have far-reaching consequences, especially when their impact extends beyond the environment and into people's daily lives.
For one Queensland family, an encounter with a well-known pest took a devastating turn.
The incident exposed critical gaps in response efforts and sparked urgent calls for action.
A Queensland mother is demanding urgent government action and greater awareness of the dangers posed by fire ants after her teenage son suffered a severe allergic reaction from multiple stings on their property.
Ebony, from Greenbank in Logan, said her son Kaleb had no known allergies before he was first stung in late 2023.
A single sting on his foot triggered full anaphylaxis within five minutes, leaving him struggling to breathe and covered in hives.
‘Kaleb spent two days in hospital because he couldn’t breathe. His face swelled up completely, and he broke out in hives all over his body,’ she shared.
Just days after being discharged, he was stung again—this time three times—and his reaction was even more extreme.
‘We used an EpiPen at home and called an ambulance straight away,’ Ebony said.
‘When paramedics arrived, they gave him another adrenaline shot, but by then he was in serious trouble. He couldn’t breathe at all. He was completely anaphylactic. They had to rush him to the hospital, where he received more adrenaline and an antihistamine shot. He was kept there for another two to three days.’
Kaleb now lives with a lifelong allergy to fire ants, and his family has been left grappling with both the emotional and logistical challenges of avoiding future stings.
Before Kaleb’s ordeal, the family had already experienced tragedy due to fire ants when their dog died from multiple stings.
Despite this, Ebony admitted she had not realised how dangerous the ants could be.
‘I was oblivious because it’s not something we had ever dealt with before,’ she said.
After Kaleb’s second life-threatening reaction, she contacted Queensland’s Department of Primary Industries (DPI) to report a severe infestation on their 12-acre property.
Officials confirmed the presence of fire ants and sent a worker to apply treatment, but Ebony felt the response was inadequate.
‘They treated the front and back, but it was just one person. Then, months later, they sent me one single kit to manage the infestation myself,’ she said.
At the time, Ebony was battling breast cancer, making it impossible for her to tackle the infestation alone.
‘I told them I was too sick to do it. Kaleb obviously couldn’t go near them, and my youngest son—who’s only 16—couldn’t possibly treat 12 acres by himself,’ she said.
She repeatedly contacted the DPI for further assistance but claimed no one ever followed up.
Frustrated, Ebony turned to social media, sharing photos of Kaleb’s injuries to raise awareness.
Her post quickly went viral, drawing widespread attention to the issue.
‘Interestingly, after my post, the DPI contacted me the next day,’ she said.
‘They were panicked, saying they needed to come and inspect the property to confirm the presence of fire ants. But they had already done this twice—I had the emails to prove it.’
This week, DPI crews finally returned to her property, but she is still waiting for further action.
Meanwhile, fire ant nests remain scattered across the land, and their burrowing has even caused damage to her driveway.
Concerns over the effectiveness of fire ant eradication efforts have been growing, with some Queensland residents opposing baiting due to fears over potential health risks for humans, animals, and the environment.
Others have questioned whether authorities are handling the crisis effectively.
‘People against these efforts should visit infested areas and see the damage for themselves,’ Ebony said.
‘A lot of people affected haven’t spoken up out of fear. Within 24 hours of my post, I was already receiving threats from people protesting the eradication efforts.’
She urged Australians to take the threat seriously, warning that the danger of fire ant stings could increase over time.
She said: ‘People need to know that you may not be allergic for the first few bites, but every single time you get bitten after that, your reactions worsen.’
Last week, the NSW government announced a temporary halt on hay imports from flood-affected parts of Queensland after footage showed fire ants being carried through floodwaters.
A 2024 senate inquiry into the fire ant crisis found that The National Fire Ant Eradication Program, the government’s initiative to control the spread, was in ‘absolute shambles’ and called for an independent eradication body.
Fire ants, particularly the red imported fire ant, have infested approximately 830,000 hectares in South East Queensland and have also been detected in parts of NSW.
Queensland’s DPI has been contacted for comment on Ebony’s concerns.
In a previous story, we covered the devastating impact of fire ants as they spread through Australian backyards, causing serious health risks.
Now, their presence is becoming even more alarming as they invade homes in the wake of a natural disaster.
Read on to see how this growing threat is putting more people in danger.
Dealing with fire ants can be overwhelming, especially as their numbers continue to grow.
Knowing how to eliminate them effectively is key to protecting your home and loved ones.
Watch the video below to learn four simple steps to get rid of fire ants.
With fire ants spreading and allergic reactions becoming more severe, do you think enough is being done to control the threat? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
The presence of invasive species can have far-reaching consequences, especially when their impact extends beyond the environment and into people's daily lives.
For one Queensland family, an encounter with a well-known pest took a devastating turn.
The incident exposed critical gaps in response efforts and sparked urgent calls for action.
A Queensland mother is demanding urgent government action and greater awareness of the dangers posed by fire ants after her teenage son suffered a severe allergic reaction from multiple stings on their property.
Ebony, from Greenbank in Logan, said her son Kaleb had no known allergies before he was first stung in late 2023.
A single sting on his foot triggered full anaphylaxis within five minutes, leaving him struggling to breathe and covered in hives.
Aussie teen’s severe reaction sparks urgent warning. Image source: Ebony Britton
‘Kaleb spent two days in hospital because he couldn’t breathe. His face swelled up completely, and he broke out in hives all over his body,’ she shared.
Just days after being discharged, he was stung again—this time three times—and his reaction was even more extreme.
‘We used an EpiPen at home and called an ambulance straight away,’ Ebony said.
‘When paramedics arrived, they gave him another adrenaline shot, but by then he was in serious trouble. He couldn’t breathe at all. He was completely anaphylactic. They had to rush him to the hospital, where he received more adrenaline and an antihistamine shot. He was kept there for another two to three days.’
Kaleb now lives with a lifelong allergy to fire ants, and his family has been left grappling with both the emotional and logistical challenges of avoiding future stings.
Before Kaleb’s ordeal, the family had already experienced tragedy due to fire ants when their dog died from multiple stings.
Despite this, Ebony admitted she had not realised how dangerous the ants could be.
‘I was oblivious because it’s not something we had ever dealt with before,’ she said.
After Kaleb’s second life-threatening reaction, she contacted Queensland’s Department of Primary Industries (DPI) to report a severe infestation on their 12-acre property.
Officials confirmed the presence of fire ants and sent a worker to apply treatment, but Ebony felt the response was inadequate.
‘They treated the front and back, but it was just one person. Then, months later, they sent me one single kit to manage the infestation myself,’ she said.
At the time, Ebony was battling breast cancer, making it impossible for her to tackle the infestation alone.
‘I told them I was too sick to do it. Kaleb obviously couldn’t go near them, and my youngest son—who’s only 16—couldn’t possibly treat 12 acres by himself,’ she said.
She repeatedly contacted the DPI for further assistance but claimed no one ever followed up.
Frustrated, Ebony turned to social media, sharing photos of Kaleb’s injuries to raise awareness.
Her post quickly went viral, drawing widespread attention to the issue.
‘Interestingly, after my post, the DPI contacted me the next day,’ she said.
‘They were panicked, saying they needed to come and inspect the property to confirm the presence of fire ants. But they had already done this twice—I had the emails to prove it.’
This week, DPI crews finally returned to her property, but she is still waiting for further action.
Meanwhile, fire ant nests remain scattered across the land, and their burrowing has even caused damage to her driveway.
Concerns over the effectiveness of fire ant eradication efforts have been growing, with some Queensland residents opposing baiting due to fears over potential health risks for humans, animals, and the environment.
Others have questioned whether authorities are handling the crisis effectively.
‘People against these efforts should visit infested areas and see the damage for themselves,’ Ebony said.
‘A lot of people affected haven’t spoken up out of fear. Within 24 hours of my post, I was already receiving threats from people protesting the eradication efforts.’
She urged Australians to take the threat seriously, warning that the danger of fire ant stings could increase over time.
She said: ‘People need to know that you may not be allergic for the first few bites, but every single time you get bitten after that, your reactions worsen.’
Last week, the NSW government announced a temporary halt on hay imports from flood-affected parts of Queensland after footage showed fire ants being carried through floodwaters.
A 2024 senate inquiry into the fire ant crisis found that The National Fire Ant Eradication Program, the government’s initiative to control the spread, was in ‘absolute shambles’ and called for an independent eradication body.
Fire ants, particularly the red imported fire ant, have infested approximately 830,000 hectares in South East Queensland and have also been detected in parts of NSW.
Queensland’s DPI has been contacted for comment on Ebony’s concerns.
In a previous story, we covered the devastating impact of fire ants as they spread through Australian backyards, causing serious health risks.
Now, their presence is becoming even more alarming as they invade homes in the wake of a natural disaster.
Read on to see how this growing threat is putting more people in danger.
Dealing with fire ants can be overwhelming, especially as their numbers continue to grow.
Knowing how to eliminate them effectively is key to protecting your home and loved ones.
Watch the video below to learn four simple steps to get rid of fire ants.
With fire ants spreading and allergic reactions becoming more severe, do you think enough is being done to control the threat? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
