Tasmanians at risk of severe allergic reactions from Jack Jumper ant stings will be better protected, with new funding from the Albanese Labor Government.
The government is providing $1.82 million over three years to the Tasmanian Government to support the manufacturing of Jack Jumper venom extract at the Royal Hobart Hospital. The venom extract is a life-saving treatment used to treat severe allergies and making it is both complex and costly.
Jack Jumper ants are found primarily in Tasmania and parts of Southern Australia, and their stings can trigger severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Unlike bee and wasp venom, Jack Jumper venom extract is not made by pharmaceutical companies, with the Tasmanian Government handling its production and supplying it to two other states.
The $1.82 million in new funding from the Albanese Government will support in-house microbiological testing capabilities and specialist technical and operational staff, helping to secure the ongoing supply of this essential treatment.
This new investment complements national research efforts, including the Jack Jumper Ant Venom Immunotherapy Long-term Effectiveness Investigation (JAVELIN) Trial.
Supported by the National Allergy Centre of Excellence (NACE) and hosted by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, the JAVELIN Trial is looking at ways to make this treatment more effective and improve patients' quality of life.
It is being conducted across Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister White:
"Jack Jumper ants are part of everyday life in Tasmania, but for some people, a sting can quickly become a medical emergency.
"This investment is about making sure Australians can continue to access this lifesaving treatment.
"We know how complex and specialised Jack Jumper venom production is and this funding will ensure the expertise and capability remains right here in Tasmania.
"Working closely with the Tasmanian Department of Health, we are glad to have found a sustainable solution to help people be better protected from the effects of Jack Jumper stings."
Quotes attributable to Corey Upton, NACE JAVELIN Trial participant:
Corey, 52, of Blackmans Bay, is a gardener with a history of anaphylaxis to Jack Jumper ants. In 2016, he was stung 13 times while working.
"I was wearing normal gardening gloves when I felt the stings. I looked down and saw 13 Jack Jumpers hanging from my glove.
"It only took about 30 seconds before I started vomiting. I could feel my lips swell and my throat closing. My colleague, Steve, rushed me to hospital, he saved my life.
"I remember them cutting my shirt and glove off and giving me an EpiPen.
"I had a course of Jack Jumper ant venom immunotherapy from 2017 to 2023 at Royal Hobart Hospital.
"As part of the JAVELIN Trial, I had a sting challenge on Monday 16 March. They put an ant in a test tube and when it stung me, I didn't have a reaction, which proved the course of treatment worked.
"Now, I don't have to carry an EpiPen or treatment, and I feel relieved to know that if I do get stung again, especially in my line of work, I won't be panicking about the risk of anaphylaxis.
"I thank the clinic team at Royal Hobart Hospital and the National Allergy Centre of Excellence for running this trial to confirm the treatment I've had works.
"It's fantastic to know Tasmanians have access to this venom immunotherapy treatment and I am happy to help raise awareness about the risk of allergic reactions to Jack Jumper ants, and this treatment available to us."
