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    There is a new terrible disease called 'Rat Lung Disease' ! It is now moving through Queensland and New South Wales and the Health Department is not telling anyone in case we panic.

    Rat lung disease is from rats. Snails and slugs eat the rat's droppings. Snails and slugs run over your deck and through your vegetable garden leaving a parasite behind in their silvery trails. Your small child crawls over your deck and puts their fingers in their mouth. Within days, the child falls ill. The doctor has no idea what is going on. Meanwhile precious time is melting away and your child dies. The worm or worms have traveled up the spinal cord to the brain where they eat away the child's brain.


    It's the same for adults who are eating their greens from the garden. In a short while they fall ill, and if they live are severely brain damaged.


    Please pass this news to everyone you know.

    +5  Views: 1445 Answers: 12 Posted: 13 years ago
    Colleen

    Moderator
    Thanks Eggie. I'll leave this on the unanswered side so that hopefully more will see it.
    eggplant

    Thanks Colleen, the Government is trying to hide it, but the victim's families spoke out on television last night. The disease is either a death sentence, or brain-damage for the rest of one's life. Mostly they can't save you because they need to find the worm first.
    Grit Savage

    more Aussie beasties that can kill you in a horrible way! I saw the program and it's a horrific way to suffer and die (and worse). I also found out that pets can get it, my dog has been munching on slugs for a while so its of to the vets for more vaccinations.
    Clonge

    https://www.oz-nz-travel.com There is a link and an article to this killer on the site. Let's spread the word!
    lambshank

    Thanks clonge, was worth reading, and this is apparently not so new
    eggplant

    So I found out.

    12 Answers

    I seen it on a program also,what a dreadful thing to have happen to those little children.I am glad it has been bought to the attention of the public.So what now ?Is this illness treatable ?

    eggplant

    Only if they catch the worm.

    Just wonder where the rat-lung disease comes from. I have never heard of anything like that before. Those poor Children  What is your government going to do about it?

    eggplant

    Absolutely nothing. They are hiding it, but now it's out because the victim's famillies chose to warn everyone.
    Ann

    Now the government has no choice but to do something about it, since everyone knows.
    lambshank

    probably nothing,it apparently also exists in Hawaii
    west-bus

    ....................the parasite has also been found in Australia, some areas of Africa, the Caribbean, Hawaii and Louisiana.

    Eggie this really sad news what can you say when this has affected the children ....I know slugs can cause lung worms in dogs but I have never herad of this in humans as you say dont eat anything that is raw ...

    What with this, fireants, canetoads and other imported nasties Oz doesn't seem so wizard after all.

    this is terrible!  seems cooking foods would kill the nasty things. i feel so sorry for those people. will pray for them all.

    eggplant

    No more salads from the garden for me. No more salads from the shops either.

    This is beyond horrific ,nothing seems to be safe . In the end will we all be eating foods grown in sterile domes under the most strict conditions . This all sounds like a science fiction horror story . I offer my condolences to those who have lost loved ones in this unimaginable nightmare . This is beyond any imagining .I hope you will have a solution for this soon .  Very sad indeed !           Bill

    That sounds really serious, If it wasn't for the power of telivision and the internet we would not be told about these things unitl the powers that be decided to tell us , after thousands had died or been damaged.and also with the amount of people traveling around these days it can spread easily around the world,

    Prevention & Control




    Angiostrongylus cantonensis


    Prevention of A. cantonensis infections involves educating persons residing in or traveling to areas where the parasite is found about not ingesting raw or undercooked snails and slugs, freshwater shrimp, land crabs, frogs, and monitor lizards, or potentially contaminated vegetables, or vegetable juice. Removing snails, slugs, and rats found near houses and gardens should also help reduce risk. Thoroughly washing hands and utensils after preparing raw snails or slugs is also recommended. Vegetables should be thoroughly washed if eaten raw.


    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


    1600 Clifton Rd.    Atlanta, GA 30333


    1-800-CDC-INFO
    (800-232-4636)
    TTY: (888) 232-6348
    New Hours of Operation
    8am-8pm EST/Monday-Friday
    Closed Holidays



    what is the current data on it?

    eggplant

    It's spreading suburb by suburb. To protect my leafy vegies, I am going to glue a band shell grit around my large, no dig, vegie containers.

    there is probably lots more diseases out their than the goverment wants us to know about not just in your country but worldwide, how can one possibly fight all this pestilence ?

    Will washing the vegetables help?

    lambshank

    Randy,Ive always been told to wash vegs in mild salty water, this may kill slugs but I doubt would neutralise or destroy the parasite
    Headless Man

    So red meat may be the way to go........
    eggplant

    I guess it would.

    Eggy might be interested to know that redback spiders and crazy ants have been found in the UK.

    eggplant

    Today, we were told that animals were catching it too. I will never ever eat anything uncooked again. Today, I destroyed my strawberries, something is eating them. I could be a slug. I am going to spread shell grit around my vegies in the garden. Snails and slugs hate that, it scratches and scrapes their bodies.
    lambshank

    nomdeplume, do you8 mean fire ants?
    nomdeplume

    The common names 'fire ant' and 'crazy ant' cover several ant species. The Crazy ant is noirmally Anaplolepsis gracilipes, and the Fire Ant is normally Oecophylla smargadina.
    dowsa

    Nomdeplume. like the big words smart indeed .but when you said "crazy ants I thought you were talking about my "Auntie she is "Crazy "Phew Thought you were psychic


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