Deadly Tapeworm Spreading Across US

A disease-causing tapeworm, known as Echinococcus multilocularis or the fox tapeworm, is raising alarms as it appears to be spreading throughout the United States. This parasite primarily resides in wild animals like foxes but can infect humans and domestic animals through contact with its eggs, which are shed in feces.

In humans, the fox tapeworm can cause alveolar echinococcosis (AE), an extremely rare liver infection that, left untreated, is fatal in up to 90 percent of cases. Symptoms may not manifest for years, making early detection challenging. The parasite forms tumors in the liver that can spread to other organs.