Hawaii Health Agency warns travelers of the presence of parasites in the human brain

by Punlop Anusonpornperm

The Hawaii Health Department has announced a warning that parasites are increasingly being transmitted to the human brain. Although this parasite is the report that was infected with the human beings were only two cases in the past 10 years, 17 in 2017, ten in 2018, already five found in 2019 has been confirmed And.

Microsoft Word-19-036 DOH_RLWD 2019 Case 4-5, 2018 Case 10 NR FINAL 052319.docx
(PDF file) https://health.hawaii.gov/news/files/20019/05/19-036-DOH_RLWD-2019-Case-4-5-2018-Case-10-NR-FINAL-052319.pdf

Hawaii warns tourists of parasitic worm that can burrow into human brains | Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/05/hawaii-warns-tourists-of-parasitic-worm-that-can-burrow-into-human-brains/

On May 23, 2019, the Hawaii Health Department announced that three unrelated people who came to Hawaii from the mainland of the United States were newly infected with parasites. The parasite is called Guangdong Sumikai Nematode, and according to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, the symptoms are as follows:

What is Cantonese schistosomiasis?
https://www.niid.go.jp/niid/en/encycropedia/392-encyclopedia/384-kanton-intro.html

It develops after a latent period of 2 to 35 days (average 16 days), and patients show slight fever to moderate fever, severe headache, Brudzinski's sign, neck stiffness, nausea, vomiting, Kernig's sign, cranial nerve paralysis etc. It may show a marked decrease in pain, paresthesias, and pain in the extremities. In addition, it may show diplopia and ataxia, etc., and a serious case with a large number of infected worms may fall into coma or die.

Guangdong schistosomiasis is also called 'rat lungworm', and as the name suggests, females lay eggs in their lungs. The larvae are then moved to the digestive system with coughing, swallowed by the host, and finally excreted with feces. Since feces are eaten by snails and slugs that feed on it, S. caninum nematode travels through them again. If the worm is not mature when the infected slug is eaten by the rat, the parasite will go to the rat brain until it can be given birth. And when it is ready, the parasite goes to the lungs and the cycle is repeated.

It is rare for humans to get infected with Guangdong Sumikai Nematode, mainly when they have eaten slugs that have been accidentally attached to salads and the like. With regard to the increase in infection reports in recent years, the health department believes that 'the increase in slugs that are easy to pick up parasites' is related.

Even if young parasites infect the human brain, few can survive there and reach the lungs. Many of them die somewhere in the central nervous system , and even when infected, they may end up completely silent, but the movement of parasites that meander the brain and die will cause headaches, neck pain, slight fever, nausea, headaches, neck pain, etc. You may have symptoms such as vomiting. It can also cause nerve damage, mahi or coma, and in the worst case, death.

In 2018, it was reported that a man who ate slugs died of fighting illness for eight years.

I eat slugs, my body paralyzes, and a 8-year-old man with a fight disease dies. What is 'Guangdong schistosomiasis' that infects human brain? | Huff post
https://www.huffingtonpost.jp/2018/11/06/eating-slug_a_23581130/

In Japan, the number of cases infected in Okinawa is overwhelmingly large, and the first fatal cases in the country were confirmed in 2000.

do not touch! Pay attention to 'Guangdong Sumi Blood Nematode' Parasitism in African snails etc. Slut eating male death in Australia-Ryukyu Shimpo-Okinawa newspaper, regional news
https://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/entry-830841.html

There is no blood test to identify this parasite, and it is considered to be very difficult to confirm the infection. The Hawaii Health Department has identified cases by collecting fragments of parasite DNA from tissues such as the patient's brain and spinal cord. However, health authorities have called for the importance of prevention, as there is no specific treatment after infection has been identified and it is unclear whether antiparasitic drugs are helping to resolve the infection. . It is recommended that those who visit Hawaii thoroughly check and wash the produce and store it in a closed container.