Man battles for life after eating slug infected with rare rat lungworm disease - Polidicks

[url]http://www.news.com.au/national/man-battles-for-life-after-eating-slug/story-e6frfkvr-1225866012092[/url] [release]A SYDNEY man is critically ill after eating a slug as a dare, leading authorities to issue health warnings on devouring raw gastropods. The 21-year-old contracted rat lungworm disease - a rare form of meningitis - after the stunt. Rat lungworm disease is caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis, a parasitic worm that is carried in the pulmonary arteries of rats. Larvae are excreted in the rat's droppings, which are often eaten by slugs and snails. The disease can cause fatal swelling of the brain and spinal cord. However, Jeremy McAnulty from New South Wales Health said most people do recover. He said the worm goes away by itself because the body's immune system eventually gets rid of it. Dr McAnulty said people should not eat raw slugs or snails and should ensure they wash their hands after touching them. "It is also important to thoroughly wash and cook any produce that could be contaminated by animals," he said. The worm was found mainly in Asia and the Pacific Islands. It was rare for people to contract rat lungworm disease in Australia, but it occurred occasionally from eating an uncooked slug or snail, Dr McAnulty said. Infected people may have no symptoms or only mild short-lived symptoms, he said. Sometimes the infection causes meningitis, with symptoms such as headaches, stiff neck, tingling or pain in the skin, fever, nausea, and vomiting, Dr McAnulty said. "Even if infected, most people recover fully without treatment," he said. "However, it can sometimes cause severe meningitis. "Because humans are not the natural host of the parasite, the parasite eventually dies without treatment." Rat lungworm infection cannot be passed on to other people.[/release] He must be feeling awfully [I]sluggish[/I] right now.

Amazingly, I don't feel at all sorry for this guy. Dares like this are pretty dumb; and in a way, he had it coming. The disease itself sound pretty nasty, though.

Slugs are edible though. Bear Grylls even said. Then again, would you trust a bear?

I like the bit about the health warnings. They way they worded it, it's like they're deliberately taking the piss out of it.

Silly Sydney.

Wait, so he ate a slug which carried a worm that infects rats which carries a bacteria that causes meningitis? Talk about a life cycle.

[QUOTE=Daemon;21918478]Slugs are edible though. Bear Grylls even said. Then again, would you trust a bear?[/QUOTE] Most have an organ in their body specifically for carrying parasites, eating slugs is a very fucking bad idea.

[QUOTE=Canuhearme?;21920561]Wait, so he ate a slug which carried a worm that infects rats which carries a bacteria that causes meningitis? Talk about a life cycle.[/QUOTE] That's asking for a Yo Dawg.

[IMG]http://www.phsource.us/PH/PARA/Chapter_7_files/image002.jpg[/IMG] That guy is probably the Australian equivalent of Steve-O or something... why on Earth would you eat a RAW SLUG?! :barf:

In b4 Australia bans....

[QUOTE=bravehat;21921162]Most have an organ in their body specifically for carrying parasites, eating slugs is a very fucking bad idea.[/QUOTE] Yeah he mentioned that in the turkey expedition actually and said specifically to remove the innards.