Study shows rat lungworm prevalence amid prevention campaign
HONOLULU (AP) — New research on rat lungworm disease shows that almost 94 percent of rats in the Hilo region are infested with the parasite that causes the meningitis-like disease.
The research was released Monday as the state started its first statewide campaign to prevent the disease.
The most recent case came out of Hilo, where a resident contracted the disease in late November. Department of Health officials suspect the Big Island patient accidentally ingested an infected slug while drinking from a garden house.
People contract the disease by ingesting food contaminated with snails or slugs carrying parasitic larvae from rat droppings.