Two people in Los Angeles County are sick with a rare parasitic infection known as “raccoon tapeworm,” according to officials.
The parasite, called Baylisascaris procyonisfound in the South Bay, according to a Los Angeles County Department of Public Health news release. The parasite can infect the brain, spinal cord and eyes and lead to eye diseases and swelling of the brain.
No further information was provided about the two people who were infected, including their current conditions.
The risk to the public is low at this time and the infection is rare; however, the news remains concerning because the infection rate in raccoons is high and a large number of raccoons live near humans, officials said.
People can become infected if they ingest soil, dirt, water, or other material contaminated with raccoon feces, which may contain roundworm eggs. The infection cannot be transmitted from person to person.
Dogs and cats can also become infected if they come into contact with contaminated material; cats cannot transmit the disease and dogs rarely do.
“Our health is closely linked to the health of the animals around us,” Los Angeles County Health Director Muntu Davis said in the press release. “Simple precautions, such as washing your hands regularly, avoiding direct contact with wildlife and their waste, keeping pets healthy and preventing wildlife from taking shelter or living in or next to our homes or properties can help keep our neighborhoods and families safe and healthy.”
Adults older than 65, children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems have a higher risk of becoming seriously ill.
Officials have encouraged people to always wash their hands, be aware of zoonotic diseases, avoid animal bites and scratches, keep wild animals away, remove animal waste, do not touch dead wild animals, handle food safely and keep their pets safe.