Scientists Warning Louisiana About the Spread of Rat Lungworm

LOUISIANA - Summertime in Louisiana means mosquitoes, snakes are on the move, alligator mating season, fire ants, and much more. Now, we have something else to add to the list that scientists are warning us to be aware of...it's called rat lungworm.

Sounds absolutely disgusting doesn't it?

OK, so what is rat lungworm, what can it do to us, and how do we make sure we don't get it?

What Is The 'Brain Worm' Scientists Are Talking About?

Scientists are now raising concerns about a parasitic “brain worm” that’s spreading across parts of the southeastern United States, and this includes Louisiana.

The parasite getting attention is called rat lungworm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis, and although it’s not new, it is spreading according to researchers. This parasite typically lives in rats, but it can make its way into humans a few different ways including nails and slugs, freshwater shrimp or crabs, and contaminated produce.

READ MORE: Louisiana’s Most Snake-Infested Lakes

Once inside the human body, it can travel to the brain and cause a rare condition known as eosinophilic meningitis, which affects the nervous system.

Why This Matters For Louisiana And The Gulf Coast

Researchers say this parasite has already been found across parts of the Southeast including Texas, Florida, and Louisiana, and is continuing to spread. For Louisiana, our climate and environment is unfortunately a perfect breeding ground for the rat lungworm parasite due to our warm, humid climate, plenty of wildlife, lots of waterways and crawfish culture, and more.

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How People Can Actually Get Infected

Before you panic, this isn’t something you can just “catch” by walking around outside. Most infections happen when someone accidentally consumes the parasite by eating raw or undercooked snails, slugs, or seafood, eating unwashed fruits or vegetables that have been contaminated by slugs or snails infected with the parasite, or accidental ingestion.

READ MORE: Dangerous Spiders Found in Louisiana You Should Never Ignore

Rat lungworm cases are rare according to scientists, but the risk is real enough to take seriously.

Rat Lungworm Symptoms

If an infection does occur, the symptoms can range from mild to severe. According to latimes.com, symptoms include "severe headaches, stiff neck, nausea or vomiting, tingling or painful skin sensations, and fever".

In rare cases, the rat lungworm parasite can cause neurological complications, or worse.

How Louisiana Residents Can Protect Themselves

Don't freak out, you don't need to cancel your crawfish and shrimp boils, just be cautious and thorough by washing all fruits and vegetables well, avoid eating raw or undercooked snails or freshwater animals, and rinse produce carefully, especially if it's homegrown.

Read more over at latimes.com.