Topline
On Tuesday, a county in South Florida was placed under quarantine due to an infestation of the invasive giant African land snail. The aim is to eliminate this dangerous mollusk, which has the potential to spread meningitis.
A giant African land snail in the palm of a hand.
NurPhoto via Getty Images
Key Facts
Parts of Broward County, Florida, have been placed under quarantine since the discovery of an infestation of giant African land snails in the city of Miramar earlier this month.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services issued a statement declaring a quarantine in a 3.5 square mile area. Under this quarantine, residents are not allowed to move the snails or regulated items such as plants, soil, debris, yard waste, and building materials without permission. However, they are permitted to leave their homes.
The snails are carriers of a parasite called rat lungworm, known to cause meningitis in humans, which can be fatal.
The giant African land snail is illegal to import or own in the United States due to the serious risk it poses to agriculture and human health. In addition to parasites, the snails can carry salmonella and bacteria.
Treatment of the infestation involves the release of snail bait in two specified areas. A metaldehyde-based molluscicide is used, which is safe for residential use.
These snails are highly invasive and can cause significant damage to ecosystems. They also pose a major threat to food security as they consume and contaminate hundreds of different plant species and infrastructure such as plaster, stucco, and paint.
Fully grown adult giant African land snails can reach up to eight inches in length and weigh over two pounds. They are identifiable by their brownish striped shells.
Surprising Fact
The giant African land snail is ineligible to compete in the World Snail Racing Championships due to its large size, as reported by National Geographic.
Key Background
The giant African land snails were previously declared eradicated in Florida, with an initial appearance in Miami in 1966. However, a reintroduction occurred in 2011, prompting another battle that resulted in the complete eradication of the snails in Broward and Miami County in 2021. These snails reproduce rapidly, with each snail capable of laying up to 1,200 eggs annually. They are one of the most destructive species, consuming approximately 500 different plants and causing damage to various structures. Native to East Africa, they thrive in warm, tropical climates.
Tangent
Parasitic meningitis, while less common than bacterial and viral meningitis, can be fatal and cause inflammation around the brain and spinal cord. Consumption of contaminated animals or produce is the primary cause of infection, and human-to-human transmission is rare. The parasite responsible can lead to severe central nervous system and gastrointestinal damage, resulting in a rare form of parasitic meningitis known as eosinophilic meningitis (EM). Symptoms include nausea, stiff neck, vomiting, headache, confusion, eye sensitivity to light, low-grade fever, tingling or pain in the skin, weakness or paralysis, coma, loss of coordination, or death. Treatment for EM focuses on alleviating symptoms.
Further Reading
For more information, see “Fungal Meningitis Outbreak In Mexico Kills 2 After Cosmetic Surgeries. Here’s What We Know—And Symptoms And Treatment” (Forbes).
