"Hawaii is the hot spot for rat lungworm disease in the U.S., with more than 80 cases that were laboratory-confirmed from 2016 to 2026. Still, it's considered a highly underdiagnosed disease. The largest number of rat lungworm cases occur on the island of Hawaii."
"People have contracted the disease after finding a slug in washed salad, eating unwashed fruit or vegetables and even eating a slug on a dare. Awareness of the disease has altered the way some Hawaii residents buy produce, where they choose to purchase salads or smoothies from, and how they prepare fruits and vegetables at home before eating them."
"It's probably more prevalent, probably across the country, especially in the southern portions. It's probably all over the place. We know it's in Louisiana, Texas, Georgia, Florida, so it's probably spread again."
"The disease is caused by the parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis, and it's commonly called rat lungworm because the parasite begins its life in a rat. The larvae are then passed to snails and slugs through a rat's feces. Humans can become infected if the microscopic larvae are accidentally ingested, most commonly through contaminated produce."
Rat lungworm disease, caused by the parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis, has been detected in California at the San Diego Zoo, signaling potential expansion beyond Hawaii where over 80 confirmed cases occurred between 2016 and 2026. The disease remains highly underdiagnosed. Humans contract the illness by consuming contaminated produce containing microscopic larvae from infected slugs and snails. The parasite lifecycle begins in rats, passes to snails and slugs through feces, then to humans through accidental ingestion. Researchers believe the parasite is more widespread than documented, likely present across southern U.S. states including Louisiana, Texas, Georgia, and Florida. Hawaii residents have altered purchasing and food preparation habits due to disease awareness.
Read at SFGATE
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