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Deadly parasitic tapeworm detected in West Coast wildlife for first time
Fox News • • health
Key Points:
- Researchers at the University of Washington have detected the parasitic tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis, or "fox tapeworm," for the first time in West Coast wildlife, finding it in 37% of coyotes sampled near Puget Sound.
- The tapeworm can cause a rare but potentially deadly disease called alveolar echinococcosis in humans, characterized by slow-growing cysts primarily in the liver, but the risk to the general public remains low.
- The coyotes carried a more infectious European variant of the parasite, which has expanded its range in North America over the past 15 years, spreading westward from the Midwest to the West Coast.
- Humans can become infected by accidentally ingesting tapeworm eggs from contaminated soil, food, or contact with infected pets, with symptoms often taking years to appear and potentially mimicking cancer in severe cases.
- Prevention focuses on good hand hygiene, avoiding contact with wild canids, and ensuring pets do not consume wild rodents and receive regular veterinary care to reduce transmission risk.
