Hysteria: Not just Def Leppard

Let’s put things into perceptive. Swine flu hysteria sweeps into our living rooms via the evening news or 24 hour news, which ever you can stomach. Now the crazy VP says he wouldn’t let his family fly or ride a subway! Give me a break. The Hysteria!

Hawaii has yet to have a one case. However, we have been warned for the past several months about contracting angiostrongylus, or rat lung worm.

Swine Flu? Please. Got nothing on Rat Lung Worm. I know pigs can be vicious animals – remember the concern when little Judy Garland fell into the pig sty in the Wizard of Oz? You thought the farm hands were alarmed over her soiled dress? Nah, pigs will eat anything.

Here on the Big Island, we are warned to wash produce thoroughly to help prevent exposure to rat lung worm. The state Department of Health identified six probable cases of illness caused by angiostrongylus last year. Two resulted in comas. All individuals were Big Island residents and regularly ate fresh raw vegetables from backyard gardens. A good reason to close down the Obama garden behind the Whitehouse? After all, country’s are now banning pork products from the US and now Joe Biden says “Whoa” to public transport. Hey what about being green?

A little information about rat lung worm. The parasite angiostrongylus cantonensis causes a form of meningitis called eosinophilic meningitis, or angiostrongylus. The condition is also referred to as rat lung worm because rats are part of the parasite's life cycle. The parasite is found in snails, slugs, freshwater prawns, crabs, fish and possibly the flatworm in Hawaii.

Signs of rat lung worm can include severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness and other problems related to the brain and spinal cord. Most patients recover from the infection without treatment. Except the two in comas.

Protective action: Eating uncooked snails, slugs, freshwater prawns and fish can cause the rare infection, leading to serious illness. The Department of Health warns freshwater prawns, crabs or fish and mollusks such as snails should be cooked thoroughly before eating. Sufficient heat, boiling 3 to 5 minutes, kills parasites.Thoroughly wash fresh vegetables and fruit before consuming and visually inspect to be sure the produce is free of slugs and snails. Controlling rodents, snails and slugs around homes will also decrease the risk of exposure.

Most Hawaiians have snails in their backyards. Rats too. These pests more common than pigs, although there are many who host swine in their yards. Daily, I pluck slime balls out of the earth and discarded them in the trash. I don’t touch them, and wash my hands afterwards. I don’t seriously consider eating them. I remember Paris, ah Paris.

What warrants hysteria? Look at these numbers: Do the math.

US population: 300,000,000. Contracted Swine Flu: 100. Deaths: 1 (not from US).
Hawaii Big Island population: 150,000. Contracted Rat Lung Worm: 6. Deaths 0, but two in comas. (2006)

I’m just saying…

Oh, I get hysterical, hysteria

Oh can you feel it, do you believe it?

It's such a magical mysteria

When you get that feelin', better start believin'

'Cos it's a miracle, oh say you will

Def Leppard