People who are severely allergic to fire ant venom can die from just a few stings due to anaphylactic shock. However, very few people are severely allergic to fire ants, probably less than 1% of the total population. For most non-allergic people with healthy immune systems, it would take a very large number of stings in order for the attack to be lethal. This could happen if a person came into contact with a nest or large number of workers and was not able to escape (small children, invalids, etc.). See also FAQ #850: "What should I do if I get stung by an imported fire ant? How do I treat the pustules?"

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