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Deadly Rat Worm Found West of Texas First Time
8 Mar
Summary
- Parasitic rat lungworm detected in San Diego County for the first time west of Texas.
- A wallaby at the San Diego Zoo died from neurological issues caused by the worm.
- Infected rats and opossums suggest worms are endemic in San Diego County.
Parasitic rat lungworms, known as Angiostrongylus cantonensis, have been identified in San Diego County, California, representing the first documented instance west of Texas. The discovery followed the death of a 7-year-old parma wallaby at the San Diego Zoo in December 2024, which exhibited severe neurological symptoms.
Subsequent investigations in January and February 2025 revealed the presence of the parasite in both wild rats and Virginia opossums in the San Diego area. Three out of 64 tested rats and seven out of ten euthanized opossums were found to be infected. These findings suggest the rat lungworm has established a foothold and could potentially spread to other parts of the western United States.
While rat lungworm can be fatal, human deaths are rare. Transmission typically occurs through consuming or handling infected snails, slugs, frogs, lizards, rats, or freshwater crustaceans. Health authorities recommend thorough washing of fruits and vegetables to prevent infection. The California Department of Public Health acknowledged the possibility of the parasite's presence and advised food safety precautions, including not consuming raw snails or slugs and washing produce.
