Keywords: slug bug infestation (278.88),
In many countries, raw and cooked snails, like escargot, are a delicacy. So, a live slug should be fine to eat. Well, that’s what a young Australian man thought too, but it turned out to be a big mistake.
One night in 2010, in Sydney, Australia, a small group of you men was hanging out on their patio drinking red wine. One of these young men was Sam Ballard, a strong athlete, and rugby player.
As they partied, the young men saw a tiny slug on their patio and started daring each other to eat it. Sam accepted the dare,, grabbed it, and popped it into his mouth.
Life continued for a few days, and Sam did not experience any symptoms or problems. Still, suddenly he was hit by a severe unbearable pain in his leg, which led him to go to a hospital, where he was diagnosed with angiostrongylus cantonensis, otherwise known as the Rat Lungworm parasite. Unfortunately, his condition worsened, and Sam fell into a coma brought on by a rare meningitis bacterial infection called eosinophilic meningo-encephalitis, which can cause permanent brain damage, nerve damage, or even death.
Sam woke up from his coma 420 days later. He had already suffered brain damage that left him paralyzed, and he lost 100 lbs. He could not eat independently, so he was attached to feeding tubes.
This promising athlete that was supposed to have a bright future was no longer able to move and needed costly round-the-clock care.
Sam was released from the hospital three years later, and his family and friends had to fundraise to afford the constant care he needed to survive.
Unfortunately, Sam passed away eight years later due to his condition.
So, what is Rat Lungworm?
Rat Lungworm is not the scientific name of this parasite. Its scientific name is angiostrongylus cantonensis. This parasitic roundworm can only mature inside the lungs of rats infected with this disease, which is why it’s called rat lungworm. The infected rats pass the parasite’s larvae in their feces, which slugs can consume. The larvae grow inside the slugs but don’t mature fully. They can only develop when rats eat the infected slugs.
Humans are typically incidental hosts of this worm since we are not the target.
However, if you contract this parasitic roundworm, it’ll immediately make itself at home inside your central nervous system. It is not contagious but can spread to people if larvae are left on vegetables and fruits and they are consumed raw and unwashed
Rat Lungworm infection symptoms:
-Nausea
-Vomiting
-Abdominal Pain
-Severe Headaches
-Light Sensitivity
-Muscle aches (especially legs)
Not every infected individual will suffer the same symptoms.
It depends on the infection’s severity; some people might not need any medical intervention.
In many cases, this infection can clear up, and some individuals might present with mild or no symptoms.
It is best to seek medical help if you are experiencing these signs after consuming uncooked veggies, especially leafy greens, eating escargot,, or touching a slug or snail.
To prevent your loved ones and yourself from contracting this disease, it’s best to:
-wash your vegetables very well before consumption
– don’t consume raw, unwashed leafy greens
-wash hands very well before eating or drinking
-while traveling, avoid consuming any raw veggies, even at restaurants.
