Giant Snails Invading Florida Carrying Dangerous Parasite, Scientists Say

It was only a matter of time before the rat lungworm was found among the giant snails.

The Giant African Land Snails, or GALS, have been found and killed by authorities. Stanley warned WFLA about the parasites.

The rat lungworm was found in some of the snails. It was a matter of time before we found it. That's a disease that can be caused by a parasites.

Stanley said in a video interview that the snails are popular as pets and have cream-colored bodies. People become overwhelmed by the ability of the snails to lay thousands of eggs if they become tired of caring for them. The snails are released and feed on 500 types of plants and even stucco buildings.

Florida had to eradicate GALS populations before. Food Safety News said that it took 10 years and $1 million to get rid of the snails that were first found in the US in the 60s. There was a renewed flareup after a reinvasion in 2011.

Since the most recent incident, the community has been placed on a state of emergency. Residents are being told not to touch or move any of the snails they see. An Australian teen made international news after taking a dare. He died of rat lungworm, the same disease found in Florida's GALS, which the CDC advises against eating.

Florida residents are at risk because of irresponsible pet owners. They've caused the death of thousands of snails, who most definitely did not ask to move to Florida, or to carry a parasites.

There is more on medical news.