ratlung worm on the rise again

[pbmaise]

Aloha,
Graham was two rooms down from me when I had my appendix out around Feb 2009. I'm quite concerned about the raw food festival and communes like the ones down Papaya Farms Road that specialize in raw food. As I understand it this pest has been in Hawaii a long time and it wasn't until the arrival of an invasive tree climber (Slug or snail) from the Philippines that cases increased.

I have seen most people concentrate on removing snails and slugs. I think the better route is removing the rats. With no rats, no rat poop for the snails and slugs to eat. Therefore, the report I recall reading suggested focusing on removing the rats. If you can be assured the slugs and snails are not eating the rat poop the cycle is broken.

I can't imagine how many thousands of rat traps and miles of rat proof fencing could have been purchased and installed compared to the hospital bills incurred in 2009. If anyone knows someone in civil defense..why not ask the open question what are they doing to protect residents from deadly pests.

Phil
Pahoa