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DetlefK

(16,423 posts)
Sun Apr 9, 2017, 07:29 AM Apr 2017

Brain-parasite spreading due to climate-change

http://gizmodo.com/a-brain-invading-parasite-is-believed-to-be-spreading-b-1794144135

Health officials in Hawaii have been warning residents not to touch snails or slugs with their bare hands because of an increase in cases of people coming into contact with a rare parasitic infection known as a rat lungworm. Experts are blaming its sudden spread across the United States on climate change and globalization.

In the last two decades, there have only been two documented cases of rat lungworm infections in Hawaii. But in the past three months, six more cases have occurred in rapid succession. Other states where it has recently popped up include California, Alabama, Louisiana and Florida. According to the Atlantic, the first known case of the disease occurred in Taiwan in 1944 but in the past few years, it’s believed to have spread to the U.S. by way of rats in cargo ships.

Pretty much everything about this disease is nasty. Rat lungworm is a parasitic nematode (Angiostrongylus cantonensis) that begins its life as an infection in rat’s lungs, blood, and brains. From there, the rats defecate worm larvae that are spread to other creatures like snails, slugs, and freshwater shrimp. Humans might eat one of these infected hosts or they might eat produce that has had the worm transferred to it by a host. Next thing you know, your brain is being invaded and it doesn’t sound good at all. Once rat lungworm disease moves into the brain it can cause meningitis and its symptoms include tremors, pain, and inflammation. It is often fatal.

...

The severity of the disease can vary wildly, there’s no known treatment, and it’s notoriously difficult to diagnose.

Cases of rat lungworm infections have been documented in over 30 countries and health officials are worried about its appearance in areas where previously the habitat was believed to be unsuitable. One recent surprise location was in Oklahoma. Scientists fear that this is just another consequence of climate change. A 2004 World Health Organization report warned that “most new infections seem to be caused by pathogens already present in the environment, which have been brought out of obscurity, or given selective advantage, by changing ecological or social conditions.”







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Want to keep snails away from your garden?
Beer.
Use a flower-pot trivet. Push it into the ground until the upper rim is on ground-level. Fill with at least 1/2 inch of the cheapest, smelliest beer you can find.
The snails will crawl into the beer and die.
7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Brain-parasite spreading due to climate-change (Original Post) DetlefK Apr 2017 OP
Rat lung worm. littlemissmartypants Apr 2017 #1
That sounds like a panacea for republicans. Turbineguy Apr 2017 #2
Beat me to it! Chasstev365 Apr 2017 #3
LOL to both of you! mdbl Apr 2017 #4
That ws the plot of the series Brain Dead csziggy Apr 2017 #7
When trump finds out, I'm sure he'll de fund the CDC. mountain grammy Apr 2017 #5
Good one too. Duppers Apr 2017 #6

Turbineguy

(37,206 posts)
2. That sounds like a panacea for republicans.
Sun Apr 9, 2017, 08:15 AM
Apr 2017

Last edited Sat Apr 15, 2017, 03:10 AM - Edit history (1)

People with half their brains eaten away will surely vote republican.

csziggy

(34,119 posts)
7. That ws the plot of the series Brain Dead
Sun Apr 9, 2017, 11:40 AM
Apr 2017

Which was planned for a second season until Dolt45 was elected - the the second season was suddenly cancelled.

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