This hospital could make anybody antsy.
A Canadian hospital was forced to suspend surgeries for many of its patients after an army of ants overtook the medical facility.
Carman Memorial Hospital in southern Manitoba has temporarily paused certain procedures after the infestation impeded staff’s ability to keep operating rooms sterile — and ant-free, the CBC reported Wednesday.
The hospital put operations, including elective surgeries, on hold to get the bug issue under control after pavement ants were spotted crawling under doors and marching down hallways, Southern Health, the company that operates the facility, told the outlet.
A spokesperson said the staff must take “precautions to remedy the situation in an effort to avoid any further surgical cancellations and any chance that the ant problem may get worse.”
Anything — even a single ant — that could jeopardize sterility is an unacceptable risk for intensive health procedures, according to the medical facility.
The issue is being addressed “immediately,” and patients undergoing minor operations are being contacted promptly if there are delays, a spokesperson for Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara told the publication.
Southern Health said there is no significant risk posed to patients, staff or the integrity of the building and many procedures have not been impacted.
The pavement ants are “simply seeking food sources inside buildings as ants are known to do,” the company added.
Exterminators have made an effort to curb the insect population by cleaning drains and sealing cracks. Sticky tape traps with bait have been placed in the hospital as well.
Pavement ants are small, brown-to-black insects that commonly build nests under sidewalks, driveways, and concrete foundations.
The persistent pests are notorious for invading homes in the late spring, foraging for sweet and greasy foods to fuel large colonies. While they possess a tiny sting, it is generally harmless and too weak to penetrate human skin.
They are highly active, creating visible mounds of sand or soil in driveway cracks and along structural foundations. Effective management requires specialized baits and sealing entry points to stop their scent-trail entry into buildings.
Southern Health did not immediately respond to the Post’s request for comment.
