Armed Polite Society
Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: MechAg94 on April 13, 2017, 12:10:00 PM
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http://www.foxnews.com/health/2017/04/12/california-newlyweds-contract-rat-lungworm-disease-on-hawaii-honeymoon.html
California newlyweds contract rat lungworm disease on Hawaii honeymoon
A California couple on their honeymoon in Hawaii contracted a brain- and spine-infecting parasite.
The disease affects the brain and spinal cord and is spread by a parasite that infects rats, which can pass larvae of the worm in their feces. Humans can acquire the dreaded disease by eating contaminated animals, including freshwater shrimp and land crabs.
Health officials in Hawaii are investigating at least four other possible cases.
Not something I would want to bring home from Hawaii. Makes me wonder how they picked up the parasite. Food or something else?
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Why aren't more Hawaiians having this issue?
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It's been in several states. CA has it too. We are having a snail epidemic with the rains, and that is one of the carriers (touching, not eating).
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It's not very common, but does happen and can get nasty. Here's local news coverage: http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/35117821/warning-from-newlyweds-who-fell-ill-after-maui-wedding
Someone from the Department of Health or something recommended washing vegetables or fruit thoroughly before eating to wash the snails, slugs, or slime out. Surprisingly he also mentioned that the popularity of organic food may put you at increased risk (I'm paraphrasing from memory) probably due to increased chance of having snails and slugs putting infected slime all over your salad greens.