Terrifying Brain Slug Parasites Are On the Rise
A rare and terrifying brain parasite carried by slugs is spreading around the world, and doctors aren’t sure how to fight the spread. The parasite, named Angiostrongylus cantonensis or the rat lungworm, is carried by slugs, who contract the parasite after eating rat feces containing the worm’s eggs. Those slugs then crawl over fruits, vegetables, and other surfaces and are … Continue reading
Ebola Evolved Into Deadlier Enemy During the African Epidemic
The Ebola epidemic that tore through West Africa in 2014 claimed 11,310 lives, far more than any previous outbreak. A combination of factors contributed to its savagery, among them a mobile population, crumbling public health systems, official neglect and hazardous burial practices. But new research suggests another impetus: The virus may have evolved a new weapon against its human hosts. … Continue reading