A deadly brain-invading worm is spreading due to climate change

[The Blue Flower]

https://gizmodo.com/a-deadly-brain-invading-worm-is-disturbingly-widespread-1796514141

Scientists in Florida have found traces of rat lungworm in five counties, bolstering the idea that this potentially fatal parasite may be expanding its geographical range on account of—you guessed it—climate change.

If this sounds familiar, you’re probably thinking of the recent rash of rat lungworm infections in Hawaii. Previously, over the past 20 years, only two cases of the disease, known as an Angiostrongylus Infection, had been documented in the Pacific island state. But in the past several months, six cases were reported in rapid succession. The parasitic worm, which spreads through an unholy alliance between snails and rats, it endemic to Hawaii, but has also been detected in California, Alabama, Louisiana and Florida. And as as a new study published in PLOS One reveals, the disease’s geographic extent in Florida is far greater than assumed. The new research is adding credence to the idea that climate change might be playing a role in the subtropical worm’s range expansion.

Rat lungworm poses a serious health risk to humans and other animals who ingest snails. Fatality rates for the disease are low, but the parasite can cause a form of meningitis, and severe infections can lead to a coma or death. In adults, signs of infection include headaches, stiff neck, fever, vomiting, nausea, and paralysis of the face and limbs. Infected children exhibit nausea, vomiting and fever. According to the US Centers for Disease Control, there is no treatment for an A. cantonensis infection.


This malicious worm is dependent on two species for its lifecycle. Snails ingest the parasite by eating infected rat feces. In turn, rats eat the infected snails, and the cycle of despair continues. Humans contract the disease by consuming infected snails—either accidentally or deliberately—or by eating infected frogs or crustaceans, which can also contract the parasite.

[elehhhhna]

1. Don't worry, our crack first world healthcare scheme will handle it

[Blue_true]

3. Actually.

Doctors from the University of Florida were the first to save a young man who was infected with brain eating amoeba. They lowered his brain and body temperature to put him into a coma. The parasite stopped producing and went dormant, allowing the Doctors to use medicines to attack and kill in in it's dormant state. Many people are nuts here in Florida, but we have really sharp people also, lots of them. The state has 20 million people and unfortunately sometimes has Trump.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Florida? Has it turned up around Merde-a-Largo?

Might explain some things.