Florida warns of infestation by giant Africa land snails

Robert Besser
14 Jul 2022, 10:41 GMT+10

Florida officials announced this week that hundreds of giant African land snails have been spotted on the state's Gulf Coast
These snails are threatening to destroy plants and trees and potentially transmitting a rare type of meningitis to humans
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's website said the snail, native to East Africa, is one of the most damaging invasive species in the world and can grow to the size of a human fist

MIAMI, Florida: Florida officials announced this week that hundreds of giant African land snails have been spotted on the state's Gulf Coast, threatening to destroy plants and trees and potentially transmitting a rare type of meningitis to humans.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's website said the snail, native to East Africa, is one of the most damaging invasive species in the world and can grow to the size of a human fist.
It also often carries a parasite known as rat lungworm that can transmit a type of meningitis that causes muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, fever and vomiting.
At a briefing, Greg Hodges, assistant director of the state's Division of Plant Industry, said over one thousand snails have been collected in the Tampa suburb of New Port Richey in Pasco County, but those tested were not carrying the rat lungworm parasite.
However, over the next 18 months the area will be treated with metaldehyde, a pesticide used to control snails and slugs, and will be monitored for two years after the last snail is found.
It is unclear how the snail arrived in Florida, but according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's website it is a common hitchhiker on cargo and is also illegally imported for food or as pets.
The current incident is the third time that the giant African land snail has been found in Florida. In the 1960s it took 10 years to eradicate the snail at a cost of $1 million. In 2010, a second infestation took another decade and $23 million to eliminate it.
Florida officials have warned that if the snails appear beyond the New Port Richey area, it may take longer than expected to eradicate them.

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