A Deadly Brain-Invading Worm Is Disturbingly Widespread in Florida (could explain a few things)

[Jimbo101]

Gizmodo

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.


(wonder if White House staff have started listening to The Cars "You Might Think" ?)

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Has it been found anywhere near Merde-a-Largo?

[dalton99a]

2. It's Ground Zero

[Cary]

5. Maybe #fakepresident, himself,.is a rat lungworm?

[mitch96]

8. Merde-a-Largo?

You crack me UP!!
Can I use this??? absolutely classic....
m

[Not Ruth]

3. Are you trying to say do not ingest snails?

Because I am ok with that that.

[NCTraveler]

4. Gizmodo needs a new editor.

It is believed that they came to Florida aboard ships from Hawaii and the fact that they are in rats helps them tolerate cold snaps in the winter.

[yallerdawg]

6. "You Might Think"!

Great, obscure reference!

[Achilleaze]

7. Thanks Comrade Casino

the republican Draft-Dodger-in-Chief and his russian-republican cronies steal the White House, Congress, and the Supreme Court, and Rat Lungworm infests the nation. Coincidence? Obviously not.

Historians will record this era as the Republican Rat Lungworm Debacle.

[Igel]

9. Better than that was this.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/nature/how-a-worm-gave-the-south-a-bad-name/

The article focuses on how hookworm infestation helped foster and gave evidence for two stereotypes involving two distinct divides: north/south and urban/rural. But it could easily have been racial, as well, given living conditions and geographic distribution at the time.

[Egnever]

10. Aww hell I love escargot.