<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Experts are warning that cases of a rat-borne disease that can cause lethal infections in humans are growing in dogs in eastern Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Rat lungworm disease, or angiostrongylus cantonensis, is caused by a parasitic worm naturally found in rats and spread by snails and slugs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It can become a source of disease to humans and dogs.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/accused-bali-bomber-to-face-trial-after-22-years-detained-in-guantanamo-bay/d71acb0a-21e7-405d-9929-595ca5394729" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Alleged Bali bombing mastermind to face trial in Guantanamo Bay after 22 years in custody</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The disease has caused two known deaths in Australia, including that of Sydney man Sam Ballard, who died after eating an infected slug for a dare in 2010.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>University of Sydney veterinary researchers have uncovered a rise in cases in dogs in Sydney and Brisbane over five years.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The number of cases began increasing from 2019, "suggesting escalating human health threats", and continued to 2024.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-brisbane-rat-lungworm-disease-experts-warn-of-rise/e602a03a-1338-4326-b934-d3de12f942b7" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The researchers recorded a peak of 32 cases in 2022, likely caused by higher-than-usual rainfall due to La Niña.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is another example how the La Niña events with wetter than average periods in Australia lead to increased disease transmission and occurrence," researcher Jan Šlapeta said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/auburn-kebab-shop-shooting-cctv-captures-moment-gunmen-opened-fire-and-injured-three-people/87671454-9fd6-4470-bc6f-4c55c73130c7" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Underworld figure targeted three times before kebab shop shooting</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In comparison, there were about 10 or fewer than 10 cases per year from 2010 to 2018.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The link between the disease and weather conditions has prompted concern that rat lungworm could emerge in humans.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"These snails and slugs, and the infective worm larvae in them, can accidentally be a disease source to us humans and our pet dogs," Šlapeta said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Once in humans or dogs, the worms quickly get to the brain where they cause disease."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>People are typically at risk if they ingest an infected snail or slug, or slime left behind on lettuce and other raw produce.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Most people infected with the disease recover fully without treatment over days, weeks and months.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/super-boost-for-millions-of-australians/1980b070-203f-4393-b77b-6e0350e5df6c" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Millions of Aussies to be thousands of dollars better off from next month</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"In dogs and humans, the parasite enters the brain, but rather than progressing to the lungs like it does in rats, it is killed in the brain by our own immune response," Phoebe Rivory, who submitted her PhD thesis to the University of Sydney School of Veterinary Science, said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It is that overt immune response that causes severe headaches and sensations."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The disease can cause severe meningitis that requires specialist treatment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In rare instances, it can be fatal. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>NSW Health regards rat lungworm disease as an "extremely rare infection". </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It advises people not to consume raw snails or slugs, to wash all fresh produce before eating and to wash their hands after gardening or handling snails or slugs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" title="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><strong><span>Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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