For the first time, a brain eating parasite has been found in San Diego County. It's called the "Rat Lungworm," and can be transmitted to humans, pets and wildlife.
East County Magazine reports the deadly parasite has been found in 10 Opossums across the county, including La Mesa, the College Area, Bonita and Carlsbad.
In addition, it was also found in three rats and a wallaby at the San Diego Zoo.
"Whereas [local infections] had not previously been documented in the United States west of Texas, identifying [rat lungworm] cases in wildlife in San Diego County provides support that A. cantonensis lungworm could now be considered endemic in this portion of southern California, with the potential to spread to other parts of the western continental United States," reads the study from the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance in conjunction with the San Diego Humane Society’s Project Wildlife, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, University of California, Davis.
(Photo: CDC)