{"id":2047986,"date":"2023-09-28T12:51:01","date_gmt":"2023-09-28T16:51:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cdc-study-warns-about-parasitic-brain-worms-found-in-georgia\/"},"modified":"2023-09-28T12:54:48","modified_gmt":"2023-09-28T16:54:48","slug":"cdc-study-warns-about-parasitic-brain-worms-found-in-georgia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cdc-study-warns-about-parasitic-brain-worms-found-in-georgia\/","title":{"rendered":"CDC warns of brain worms found in Georgia."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcdc-study-warns-about-parasitic-brain-worms-found-in-georgia%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2047986&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<h2>Parasitic Worms in Atlanta Zoo Rats Pose Possible Threat to Humans<\/h2>\n<p>A study published in a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) journal\u2064 reveals that parasitic worms found in dead rats at an Atlanta\u200b zoo could potentially harm humans.\u2062 The parasite, known \u200cas rat lungworm or Angiostrongylus cantonensis, can \u2062cause a rare brain infection in humans, resulting\u200c in painful skin sensations, vomiting, stiff\u200d neck, \u2062headache, and nausea.<\/p>\n<p>The CDC notes that most A.\u200b cantonensis infections resolve on their\u200d own without treatment, \u2064but \u200dserious \u200ccomplications can occur, leading to neurological issues or even \u2064death.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2>Related\u2062 Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/arkansas-infant-dies-from-brain-eating-amoeba-infection-5492912?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><strong>Arkansas Infant\u2063 Dies From \u2018Brain-Eating Amoeba\u2019 Infection<\/strong><\/a>  &#8211; 9\/17\/2023<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/health\/parasitic-worm-may-shield-against-covid-19-study-5483358?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><strong>Parasitic Worm May Shield Against COVID-19: Study<\/strong><\/a>  &#8211; 9\/17\/2023<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>A recent study published\u2063 in the CDC&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/wwwnc.cdc.gov\/eid\/article\/29\/10\/23-0706_article#r10\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Emerging \u200dInfectious \u200dDiseases<\/a> journal identified infections of \u2063the \u2064parasite in 33 wild brown \u2062rats found dead at an Atlanta zoological facility from 2019 to 2022. Tissue \u2063samples revealed \u2062that over \u206320 percent of these rats had A. cantonensis parasites in their \u200bheart, pulmonary artery, and \u2064brain tissues.<\/p>\n<p>The study explains that rodents typically \u200dbecome infected \u200dwith \u2064these\u2063 parasites after consuming terrestrial gastropods, a type\u200d of mollusk.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The study warns that A. cantonensis in rat \u2062populations and\u2064 other hosts in the greater Atlanta region \u200dcould pose a potential threat to human and animal health. While\u200d most human infections are reported in Asia, the discovery of the parasite in wild\u200d brown rats\u200c in Georgia suggests its establishment in a new \u200darea of the southeastern United States. The parasite\u200d has\u2064 previously\u200b been \u200bidentified in rats in neighboring states\u200d Alabama and Florida.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>The article \u2064speculates that the parasite likely existed in Georgia before 2019. Between 2011 and 2017, there were six suspected infection cases\u200b reported in\u2063 Alabama, Tennessee, and Texas.<\/p>\n<h2>The Infection<\/h2>\n<p>According to \u200cthe \u2064CDC, humans can become infected with A. cantonensis by consuming raw or undercooked snails or slugs that are infected \u200dwith the parasite. Some cultures include snails \u200cin their diet, and occasionally, children may eat snails as part of a dare, resulting in infection. For \u200bexample, \u200din 1993, a boy from New Orleans became infected after swallowing\u2062 a raw snail on a dare. The child fell\u2062 ill a \u2062few weeks later, but\u200b the symptoms disappeared within two weeks\u200d without treatment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-figure\" style=\"margin-left:0;margin-right:0;max-width:1200px\">\n<figure style=\"width:640px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Scientist \u2064Mary\u2064 Yong Cong holds one of the Giant African Snails she\u2062 keeps in her \u200clab in Miami, Fla., on July 17, 2015. (Kerry Sheridan\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>In \u200daddition to consuming raw snails or slugs, people can also\u2064 become infected by eating raw produce, such\u2062 as lettuce, that may contain parts of a small slug or snail. Certain animals like frogs, crabs, and freshwater shrimp can \u2064also carry A. cantonensis. Eating them raw or\u2063 undercooked can result \u2064in infection.<\/p>\n<p>A. cantonensis infections usually do not require treatment as the parasites die over time. Even cases of eosinophilic meningitis,\u200c a\u2064 brain infection, typically do not need antiparasitic treatment. \u2063Treatment\u2063 mainly \u200cfocuses\u2064 on\u200c managing symptoms \u2062and\u2063 reducing the\u200d body&#8217;s reaction to the parasite. However, severe meningitis cases may require\u2062 alternative treatments.<\/p>\n<p>The CDC advises people to avoid \u2063consuming raw or\u2064 uncooked\u2064 snails or slugs, \u2063frogs, and shrimp or\u2064 prawns. Those handling snails or slugs should wear gloves\u200b and wash\u200c their hands. Fresh produce should be thoroughly washed, and when \u200ctraveling to regions where the parasite is common, it is recommended to avoid eating \u200duncooked vegetables.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>If an \u200dindividual suspects an A. cantonensis infection, it is advised to seek medical attention.<\/p>\n<h2>Brain Parasites<\/h2>\n<p>The CDC&#8217;s study \u200bon A. cantonensis parasites is part of\u200b a series of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cdc-study-warns-about-parasitic-brain-worms-found-in-georgia\/\" title=\"CDC warns of brain worms found in Georgia.\">cases involving brain-infecting parasites<\/a>\u200d that have\u2063 garnered attention.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>In August, a 16-month-old boy \u2063from \u200dArkansas died from an infection caused \u200bby the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rare-brain-eating-amoeba-strikes-swimmer-at-iowas-lake-of-three-fires\/\" title=\"Rare Brain-Eating Amoeba Strikes Swimmer At Iowa\u2019s Lake Of Three Fires\">brain-eating amoeba<\/a> Naegleria fowleri. This amoeba, commonly found in\u2062 soil and warm fresh water, \u2064can cause\u200c <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/brain-eating-amoeba-from-unboiled-tap-water-kills-florida-man\/\" title=\"Brain-Eating Amoeba From Unboiled Tap Water Kills Florida Man\">primary amebic meningoencephalitis<\/a> (PAM), a disease affecting the\u200b <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/officials-eleven-soldiers-hospitalized-after-ingesting-chemical-found-in-antifreeze\/\" title=\"Officials: Eleven Soldiers Hospitalized After Ingesting Chemical Found In Antifreeze\">central nervous system<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-figure\" style=\"margin-left:0;margin-right:0;max-width:1200px\">\n<figure style=\"width:640px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Naegleria fowleri, a brain-eating amoeba. (Courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Naegleria fowleri is often referred to as the &#8220;brain-eating amoeba&#8221; because it can\u200d cause a brain infection when water containing the\u2062 amoeba enters the nose. Although only about three people in the\u2064 United States are infected each year, these infections are usually fatal, \u2062according to \u2063the CDC. The Arkansas Department of\u200d Health (ADH) stated that the \u2062child was likely exposed to the amoeba while playing in a splash\u200b pad.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>In June \u200dof last year, an Australian woman had \u2064a 3-inch parasitic worm\u2062 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/world\/alive-and-wriggling-8-centimetre-worm-extracted-from-womans-brain-5482311\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">removed from her brain<\/a>. Surgeons discovered a live Ophidascaris robertsi, a roundworm\u2063 commonly found\u200c in carpet pythons, \u200dduring an open biopsy. This case marked the first\u200b reported human infection \u2064by any species of Ophidascaris.<\/p>\n<p>The scientists involved in the case\u200d noted that while visceral involvement \u200cis common in animal hosts, brain invasion by\u200d Ophidascaris larvae had not been previously\u200c reported. The\u2063 patient&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cdc-advisers-to-discuss-covid-booster-shots-for-those-with-weakened-immune-systems\/\" title=\"CDC advisers to discuss COVID booster shots for those with weakened immune systems\">weakened immune system<\/a> \u2063may\u2064 have facilitated the larvae&#8217;s migration into\u2063 the central nervous system.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What are the potential \u200ccomplications of an A. cantonensis infection in humans?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Infection inAtlanta<\/h2>\n<p>The \u2062discovery of parasitic worms, specifically rat lungworms (Angiostrongylus cantonensis), in dead rats\u200c at an Atlanta zoo has raised \u2064concerns about potential\u200b harm to humans. Rat lungworms can \u2064cause a rare brain infection in humans, leading to symptoms such as painful \u200bskin \u2063sensations, vomiting, stiff neck, headache, and nausea. While most infections resolve on their own without treatment, serious complications can arise, including neurological issues and even\u2062 death.<\/p>\n<p>A recent study published in \u2062the U.S. Centers \u200bfor Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) \u200cjournal,\u2063 Emerging Infectious Diseases, reported infections\u200d of\u200b this parasite in 33 wild brown rats found dead at an Atlanta zoological facility between 2019 and 2022. Tissue samples revealed\u200b that over 20 percent of these rats had\u2062 A. cantonensis parasites in their heart, pulmonary artery, and brain tissues. The \u2062study suggests that rodents become infected \u2062with these parasites after consuming terrestrial gastropods, a type of mollusk.<\/p>\n<p>The presence of A. \u2064cantonensis in rat populations and other hosts in the greater Atlanta region \u2064poses a potential threat to human\u200d and animal health.\u2062 While most human infections \u2062are reported \u200din Asia, the discovery of the parasite in wild brown rats in Georgia\u2064 suggests its\u200c establishment in a new area \u200bof \u2062the southeastern United States. The parasite has also been \u2062identified in rats in neighboring states, such as Alabama and Florida.<\/p>\n<p>Speculation suggests \u2064that the parasite likely existed in Georgia\u200c even before 2019, as suspected infection cases were reported in Alabama, Tennessee, and Texas between 2011 and \u20642017. Humans \u200dcan become infected with A. \u200ccantonensis by consuming raw \u2062or undercooked snails or\u2064 slugs that are infected with the\u200c parasite. In some \u200bcultures, \u2064snails are part of the diet, and occasionally, children may eat snails as part\u200c of a\u200d dare, \u200cresulting in infection. Properly cooking and washing produce, as well as avoiding raw or uncooked snails, slugs, \u200band certain animals like frogs, crabs, and freshwater shrimp, can help prevent infection.<\/p>\n<p>In\u200c most cases, A. cantonensis infections do not require treatment,\u2064 as the parasites die over time. Even cases of eosinophilic meningitis, a brain infection caused by the parasite, typically do\u200d not require antiparasitic treatment. Treatment focuses mainly\u200c on managing symptoms and reducing the body&#8217;s reaction to the \u200bparasite. Severe meningitis cases\u200b may\u200c require alternative treatments.<\/p>\n<p>As a preventive measure, the CDC advises individuals \u200dto avoid consuming raw or uncooked snails or slugs,\u2062 frogs, and shrimp or\u2063 prawns. Those handling snails or \u200bslugs should wear gloves and wash their hands thoroughly. Fresh produce should also \u2063be thoroughly washed. When\u2064 traveling to regions where the parasite\u2063 is common, it is recommended to avoid\u2064 consuming uncooked vegetables.<\/p>\n<p>If an\u2063 individual suspects an A. cantonensis \u200cinfection, it is advised to seek medical attention. Early detection and appropriate treatment can\u200b help alleviate symptoms and\u200c prevent\u200c serious complications.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Parasitic worms discovered in deceased rats at an Atlanta zoo may pose a potential danger to humans, warns a study in a CDC journal. The rat lungworm, scientifically known as Angiostrongylus cantonensis, can lead to a rare brain infection causing severe pain. Vigilance is advised to prevent any potential health risks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":186,"featured_media":2047987,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2047986","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2047986","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/186"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2047986"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2047986\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2047987"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2047986"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2047986"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2047986"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}