Kauai Confirms โCase of โฃRat Lungworm Disease
Kauai health officials have confirmed aโค case of rat lungworm disease in an adult resident, prompting a reminder from โฃthe Hawaii Department โof Healthโ (DOH) about prevention measures. This marks the first confirmed case on the island since 2019.
Rat lungworm disease,โข while rare, isโ a parasitic infection that can cause serious neurological problems. Mostโฃ Hawaii residents contractโ the illness โฃby accidentally consuming a snail or slug infected with โthe โparasite, or throughโ an intermediate host. The DOH emphasizes โearly diagnosis is crucial for effective treatmentโข andโข minimizing long-term health impacts.
Sinceโ January โฃ1, 2014, Hawaii has recorded 102 โฃcases statewide.โ Hawaii County โฃaccounts for the vast majority,with 78 cases,followed by Maui County (13),Honoluluโฃ County (7),and Kauai โฃcounty (4),including this recentโ confirmation. Eighty-four percent of all casesโค have been reported โคin Hawaiiโข County, with theโ remaining 16% involving โคvisitors to the state.
Toโฃ prevent infection,the DOH recommends โฃthoroughly washing all fresh fruits and vegetables under clean,runningโ water,even those purchased โfrom stores โor โฃfarmersโ markets. “Small slugs and snails on produce can be tough toโ see,” stated Dr. Sarah kemble, โstate epidemiologist, in a news release. “Cooking food thoroughly โขalso kills the parasite that causesโค rat โlungworm disease.”
Additional preventative measures include controlling snail,slug,and ratโค populations around homes and gardens โฃby clearing debris and utilizing traps or โbaits. Residents with waterโ catchment systems are advised to maintain them properly, replacing โคfilters regularlyโข andโฃ protectingโค tanks from slugs.
