The Hawaii Department of Health has confirmed a case of rat lungworm disease in an individual on the island of Kauai.
Rat lungworm disease, a parasitic disease also known as neuroangiostrongyliasis, is known to be endemic on all islands in Hawaii.
The Hawaii State Laboratories Division confirmed the diagnosis of rat lungworm, using newly available sensitive testing.
Rat lungworm disease Opens in a new tab, caused by a roundworm parasite called Angiostrongylus cantonensis, affects the brain and spinal cord and can result in long-term disability.
Cooking food thoroughly also kills the parasite that causes rat lungworm disease.” DOH provides the following recommendations to prevent rat lungworm disease: >> Wash all fruits and vegetables under clean, running water to remove any tiny slugs or snails.
A person on the island of Kauai has been confirmed to have rat lungworm disease by the Hawaii Department of Health.
All Hawaiian islands are known to have endemic cases of rat lungworm disease, also referred to as neuroangiostrongyliasis. Officials stated that the diagnosed person had no prior history of traveling to other islands, outside the state or nation.
Aversion to bright light, headaches, nausea, vomiting, and stiff neck were among the symptoms that prompted the person to seek medical attention. The Hawaii State Laboratories Division used recently developed sensitive testing to confirm the diagnosis of rat lungworm.
However, the precise source of infection for this person has not been determined by health officials.
Angiostrongylus cantonensis, a roundworm parasite, causes rat lungworm disease, which damages the brain and spinal cord and can cause permanent disability.
Snails, slugs, and some other animals, like freshwater shrimp or prawns, can ingest the parasite’s larvae through the feces of infected rodents, which makes them intermediate hosts. The parasite is exclusively found in rodents.
According to DOH, the majority of cases in Hawaii occur when a person inadvertently consumes a snail or slug that has the parasite, though an intermediate host can also spread the infection.
Jan said that to DOH. From January 1, 2014, to the present, 102 cases of rat lungworm disease have been reported throughout the state; this most recent case is one of 78 cases from Hawaii County, 13 from Maui County, seven from Honolulu County, and four from Kauai County.
The majority of cases—84 percent—have occurred in Hawaii County, with visitors accounting for the remaining 16 percent. In 2019, the most recent case on Kauai was confirmed.
Early diagnosis, according to DOH, is crucial for focusing treatment and minimizing the disease’s long-term effects. Additionally, prevention is crucial statewide.
“The most effective way to reduce the risk of rat lungworm disease is to thoroughly inspect and wash all fresh fruits and vegetables under clean, running water,” stated state epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Kemble in a news release. It can be challenging to spot tiny slugs and snails on produce. Rat lungworm disease is caused by a parasite that is eliminated when food is cooked through. “”.
The following suggestions are offered by DOH to stop rat lungworm disease.
>> To get rid of any small slugs or snails, wash all fruits and vegetables under running, clean water. Keep an eye out for leafy greens. Whether produce is grown in your backyard, at a farmers market, or from a local retailer, this is crucial.
>> Manage the numbers of rats, snails, and slugs near residences, gardens, and farms. By removing any debris from areas where snails, slugs, and rats may reside, you can safely get rid of them. Think about using baits and traps.
>> Keep water catchment systems in good condition and change filters on a regular basis. Because slugs can climb up catchment tanks and enter the water, they should be covered and protected.
