The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is looking into two human cases of a rare parasitic infection that comes from raccoons.
Baylisascaris procyonis is a type of parasite that lives in the intestines of raccoons; it does not make them sick, but their feces can carry the parasite’s eggs.
The two cases of the disease, also known as raccoon roundworm, were detected in the South Bay region of L.A. County, officials said.
“While Baylisascaris is rare in people and the risk to the general public is low at this time, it is concerning because a large number of raccoons live near people, and the infection rate in raccoons is likely high,” Public Health said in a release issued Tuesday.
In humans, the parasite can infect the spinal cord, brain and eyes, and it can lead to swelling of the brain and eye disease, officials said.
People can become infected with raccoon roundworm if they eat soil, dirt or material contaminated with infected raccoon feces. The infection can also be contracted through contaminated water.
“Young children and developmentally disabled persons are at highest risk for infection as they may be more likely to put contaminated fingers, soil, objects or even animal feces into their mouths by mistake,” health officials stated, adding that those with pica – an eating disorder in which a person eats things usually not considered food – are also among those most at risk. “Although rare, dogs and cats can also become infected if they ingest raccoon feces or contaminated materials…cats infected with this parasite cannot transmit it in their feces and dogs rarely do.”
The disease cannot be transmitted from human to human, the Health Department said.
In the release issued Tuesday, Los Angeles County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis said that simple precautions can be taken by humans to avoid getting raccoon roundworm.
“Our health is closely linked to the health of animals around us,” Davis said. “Simple precautions, like washing your hands regularly, avoiding direct contact with wild animals and their waste, keeping pets healthy and preventing wildlife from sheltering or living in or next to our homes or properties can help keep our neighborhoods and families safe and healthy.”
The two cases of raccoon roundworm being reported in L.A. County are not the first disease that affects both humans and animals in the area; other examples of diseases that have been reported in the county in the past include flea-borne typhus, West Nile virus and rabies.
Just last week, the health department issued a warning which confirmed a positive case of locally acquired dengue fever from a resident who has no history of travel to areas where the disease is endemic.
Information on raccoon roundworm, including more precautions you can take, can be found here.