Ratlung. Worse than we thought.

[Eric1600]

http://westhawaiitoday.com/news/local-ne...ound-globe

“It’s very striking how severe (rat lungworm) is here in Hilo,” said Kenton Kramer, a task force member and associate professor in the Department of Tropical Medicine at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

People who develop rat lungworm in Puna and Hilo typically get very sick, whereas people afflicted elsewhere on the planet are usually affected short-term and more mildly.

The task force was created by Gov. David Ige in 2016 to get independent input about the disease.

Members took time to meet with journalists this week in East Hawaii after returning recently from international travel seeking to learn how health providers in other countries treat rat lungworm disease.

The task force attended Tuesday night’s Pahoa support group meeting for rat lungworm survivors. They also visited an aquaponics farm that’s been struggling to prevent slugs from getting in.

They gained new recognition that the disease caused by the parasitic nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis will need different treatment protocols in Hawaii than in other countries.

“All of the victims of rat lungworm disease should have a neurological consult early, and it’s looking like we should follow them over time,” said Dr. Vernon Ansdell, chair of a task force subcommittee working to develop guidelines for diagnosis and treatment.

Good thing they spent the research money on public service ads that they now realize were not based on anything scientific.

[kalakoa]

will need different treatment protocols in Hawaii

No, all you need to do is wash your vegetables. Nothing to worry about.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

People who develop rat lungworm in Puna and Hilo typically get very sick, whereas people afflicted elsewhere on the planet are usually affected short-term and more mildly.

And when one person on Oahu is diagnosed with RLW, the state breaks out a Health Department CSI Swat Team to investigate. Back in Puna, "would you like another stack of brochures for distribution at the Sunday swap meet?"

"This is an island surrounded by water, big water, ocean water.” - President Donald J. Trump

[Kenney]

I wish it was that simple.

What about the toddlers playing outside, uninformed Tourists eating fruit right off the tree, exposed or untreated water catchments?

Ask the people who have contracted RLW if it’s nothing to worry about.

[sistersue]

Do you know if bleach in the water tank kills rat lungworm? If not, I guess everyone who has a catchment tank is at risk.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Do you know if bleach in the water tank kills rat lungworm?

The short answer: they don't know.

The longer answer: I heard a radio interview/report in which an investigator said that they consider catchment tanks a possible, but lower risk means of contracting RLW. He said they would expect to find clusters of people contracting RLW if the source was a catchment tank, that is, if someone in a family was infected from catchment water, more than likely others in the family would also be infected. That, so far, doesn't seem to be the case. However, RLW parasites have been found in catchment water.

"This is an island surrounded by water, big water, ocean water.” - President Donald J. Trump

[eigoya]

We don't know is true. Below is the "wash your veggies" research. But more importantly, The parmerian(spell?) semi-slug, which appears much more potent/poisonous than the bigger African snail/ slime, are increasing here. Forget about eating it: What if you step on it, twice, or pick it up? What is the critical mass? Many RLW victims aren't sure where they got it.... need research

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3689494/
On survivors: http://youtu.be/r88WNCxAjQ8

[randomq]

We need to raise awareness that the awareness campaign was a crock of s***. (slug)

[Durian Fiend]

quote:

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Originally posted by kalakoa

will need different treatment protocols in Hawaii

No, all you need to do is wash your vegetables. Nothing to worry about.

---

That's an avoidance strategy. Article is talking about treatment protocols, due to illness apparently being more severe on island than found elsewhere.

But I agree with your avoidance strategy, and so do the panel members cited in the article.

[Durian Fiend]

quote:

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Originally posted by Kenney

.. uninformed Tourists eating fruit right off the tree

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Unless you're eating the skin of the fruit, I don't see anything wrong with this. Which fruits would these be? Not citrus, avocado, lychee, mango... maybe Egg fruit? Even then, eating the skin should be fine provided you inspect for slugs first.