A hospital in the small town of Carman, Manitoba, has been forced to postpone elective surgeries due to the presence of ants in the operating room, marking the third consecutive year the issue has arisen.
Ants Detected in Operating Room
Southern Health-Santé Sud, the regional health authority, confirmed that a limited number of elective surgeries at Carman Memorial Hospital have been temporarily postponed. A spokesperson stated, 'Ants were first detected in August 2024, but the issue resolved within a few weeks. When they reappeared last summer, the region took necessary steps. With the recent seasonal reappearance, more extensive measures are required for a long-term solution.'
While hospital staff have avoided calling it an infestation, the recurring presence of ants has prompted action. The region is working with a professional exterminator to identify the source and implement additional measures.
Patient Safety Paramount
'Any factor that could impact the safety or integrity of the operating room environment requires the suspension of surgical activity until the issue can be resolved,' the spokesperson emphasized. 'The safety of patients, staff, and physicians is paramount.' Affected patients have been contacted to reschedule their surgeries.
Carman, an agricultural town of about 3,000 people, is located in Manitoba's Pembina Valley Region, approximately 40 minutes southwest of Winnipeg. The 28-bed Carman Memorial Hospital, built in 1982, is served by several doctors and a staff of 75.
Health Canada Guidance on Ants
A Health Canada guide on ants recommends tolerating them in gardens due to their benefits but notes that several species, including carpenter ants, little black ants, odorous house ants, thief ants, and pharaoh ants, are known to invade buildings. The guide advises removing access to food and water, repairing cracks in foundations and exterior walls, and using poisonous bait systems that ants carry back to their colonies.
