Rat lungworm has a ground zero, Puna.

[Durian Fiend]

quote:

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Originally posted by sistersue

I know this subject has been talked about before but I can't find it so I wanted to ask if anyone knows if we eat only fruit and vegetables that are shipped in from the mainland can we still get rat lungworm?

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Of course, but much less likely.

Remember that slugs are attracted to green leafy plants, so most local fruits are pretty safe, unless they've fallen to the ground. Ground picked fruit should be inspected with extra care.

[Kenney]

Durian, while it's true that green leafy plants are a fav of semi slugs, I have seen them (and Giant African Snails) way up (and on) Papayas and Mulberrys here. We wash everything we eat from our yard or anybody else's, even bananas and lemons, just to be safe.

A few months ago I picked up a bunch of Kale at Maku'u Farmers Market and was stunned to see a semi slug on it. I know the growers are careful and wash everything, but they missed this guy. As much as I love fresh organic produce (and the people who grow it) I can't bring myself to buy leafy vegis there any more.

[Durian Fiend]

quote:

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Originally posted by Kenney

Durian, while it's true that green leafy plants are a fav of semi slugs, I have seen them (and Giant African Snails) way up (and on) Papayas and Mulberrys here. We wash everything we eat from our yard or anybody else's, even bananas and lemons, just to be safe.

A few months ago I picked up a bunch of Kale at Maku'u Farmers Market and was stunned to see a semi slug on it. I know the growers are careful and wash everything, but they missed this guy. As much as I love fresh organic produce (and the people who grow it) I can't bring myself to buy leafy vegis there any more.

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That's an important warning about inspecting local produce, as washing won't always dislodge the slugs.

I've also seen the giant snails up in trees, but never on tree fruit. Semi slugs have been seen on papaya and banana plant leaves, and even on papaya fruit. Has anyone ever seen or heard of semi slugs on other tree fruits? I haven't.

Any giant snails in my yard immediately get the boot treatment.

[Kenney]

I used to do the boot (or rock) treatment too until I was told by Dr. Jarvi's UH Students (while a Volunteer for the RLW testing in Puna) that I was just spreading the nasty worms. UH School of Pharmacology recommends a 15% salt solution in a "slug jug". (1 1/8 cup salt in a half gallon of water) Don't touch the slugs. Use disposable chopsticks. Leave them in the jug for at least 24 hours to kill the slugs. "As the slugs drown larvae will escape. They can live in a wet environment a long time, but the salt will kill them". (Quoted from UH College of Pharmacology booklet " The mystery of RLW")

Sorry to keep repeating this info. It seems there is still an information deficit. Increased funding for Education and Prevention sure are needed.

[hotinhawaii]

Sorry to keep repeating this info. It seems there is still an information deficit. Increased funding for Education and Prevention sure are needed.
[/quote]

Keep repeating it, please. The message has still not gotten around. Whenever I bring up this topic in polite company, there is a wealth of misinformation being passed around about the risk, prevention methods and even about treatment. The bottom line is there needs to be much more research into all of it and there needs to be a concerted effort to inform the public about such things.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Earlier in this thread Carey stated:

Mollusks that have infectious loads of Rat Lung have been found in EVERY COUNTY OF OUR STATE

As I walked along the shore this morning, I wondered about opihi. I searched Google for "opihi rat lungworm" and came up with a few articles stating it was possible to contract from fresh water opihi, but unlikely from salt water opihi.

Does anyone know if this information has changed or been updated? It's an important food for many in Hawaii, and people often eat them raw.

You could never convince a monkey to give you a banana by promising him limitless bananas after death in monkey heaven.

[kalakoa]

there needs to be a concerted effort to inform the public

Smuggle some RLW into Wakiki, and we'll get all the "concerted effort" we can stand.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Wakiki... "concerted effort"

Visit Beautiful Wakiki Beach in Hawaii!
Don't worry about rat lungworm, dengue, or TB*.
Third World living is for residents only!

* 100+ students and faculty exposed at UH-Hilo over the last month

You could never convince a monkey to give you a banana by promising him limitless bananas after death in monkey heaven.

[kalakoa]

How is it that we pay plenty taxes, but still have to beg State for grants to address public health issues?

[kalakoa]

http://www.sfchronicle.com/travel/articl...074815.php

Susan Jarvi, a professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, started looking into the disease more than five years ago and said the state is over a decade late in alerting the community, visitors and health care providers.

"It appears to me that they've been trying to sweep this under the rug for a number of years now," Jarvi said. "I would guess they don't want to hurt the tourism industry."