Osaka City officials are calling on residents to watch out for highly venomous fire ants.
Municipal officials including those in charge of crisis management and education convened an emergency meeting on Wednesday after such ants were found at Osaka Port last week.
On June 30th, experts used insecticide at the port after finding the ants. They later found a dead fire ant queen for the first time in Japan.
The South American insects, whose stings can kill humans, have been found at ports in Kobe and Nagoya since last month.
The officials said at the meeting that public elementary and junior high schools in the city, as well as kindergartens and nurseries, have been told to be careful when children play outside.
The participants said the city’s website will carry notifications for people living near places where fire ants have been found.
The city is urging residents to report possible fire ant sightings.
It also plans to step up cooperation with the central government to examine whether the insects are already present around Osaka Port.
Source and image: NHK
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