A parasitic worm that can infect people’s brains has been found throughout Florida, according to a new study. The researchers found the parasite, called rat lungworm, living in rats and snails in five Florida counties in both the central and northern parts of the state. Rat lungworm was previously found in southern Florida, and the new study is one of the first to show the extent of the parasite’s spread across the state.
The parasite carries out its life cycle in rats, snails and slugs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). People can become infected if they eat raw or undercooked snails or slugs, or if they eat contaminated produce. Please see the article here for more information on rat lungworm, the most recent rodent disease. https://www.livescience.com/59651-rat-lungworm-florida.html
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