Organic food tied to Rat Lungworm disease outbreak

Hawai`i Free Press ^ | January 17, 2009 | Andrew Walden

[AndrewWalden]

Another case or Rat Lungworm disease has been diagnosed in the Kapoho-Kalapana area of Puna and more unreported cases have been revealed. The outbreak has been tied to organic farming.

[Darkwolf377]

They’ve managed to squeeze three things I’ find disgusting into one headline—including Organic food.

[autumnraine]

Guess what all you “naturalists” out there who want food without nasty chemicals and pesticides, you get things nature intended. Like LUNGWORMS.

Good grief.

[BallyBill]

I agree, just leave out the middle and it is “Organic Rat... Lungworm Disease Outbreak”.

[buffyt]

Yikes, that is SCARY!

Obama’s Fault!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mamelukesabre]

So...I gather from the headline that the envirowhackos are upset that organic farming is causing all the rats to catch lungworm?

Funny. What a quandary the envirowhackos must be in.

[Global2010]

Great find Andrew.

Personally I cant garden worth beans.

But we do live on an ocean/bay in a rain forrest.

Rats/banana slugs are just two of a variety of varments that are rampant here.

I have had rats chew the frame around the steel door to try and get in our home during winter.

Rat D Con pellets are our friends. : )
(in the garage away from other critters and we keep the garage pristine so no nests are built)

[caseinpoint]

Well, what makes the disease dangerous to humans is it passes from rats to slugs and snails and then to people. I guess organic foods incorporate slugs and snails in their food or at least have residue from them on the greens.

[Global2010]

Personally I dont know much about natural herbasides except that they exist.

What I do know is in the summer/fall the local veggies that we buy at the farmers market are delectable and almost as good dark chocolat and milk in different taste venue sort of way.

[abigkahuna]

Here's what I really don't understand. Is rat-lungworm a Hawaii specific parasite? What kills it? I have never heard of this disease and find it problematic. Because here we are heading into a severe economic downturn where lots of folks might turn to backyard gardening to supplement their diet and now there is something new to worry about?

Has rat lungworm always been with us? What are the low cost ways to prevent it? Is just washing leafy greens the answer?

This article leaves out some important details I think. Either there is an agenda against organic farming, or it is a true hazard that organic farmers realize and DO counter?

Or is this a scare article to give folks the idea to not raise their own veggies and leave it to industry farming.? I went and read the original article and I am still puzzled. TIme to do more research.

[1000 silverlings]

A bunch of BS. Notice whom he was against, GM modified food.

[Pontiac]

More here on Rat Lung Worm problem.

WATCH OUT HAWAII: VEGGIES MAY HARBOR RARE PARASITE

[LibWhacker]

Is this related to democRAT Brainmaggot disease? Please, God, don’t let me get that.

[autumnraine]

We have a garden every year and we use a form of pesticide. I’d rather have a pesticide that I can wash off than a parasite in my gut.

[AndrewWalden]

Rat Lungworm is a tropical disease. It would be killed off by cold temps on the mainland.
Increased use of manure and no use of pesticides both increase the chance for this and other diseases to be spread. Add in “Raw Foodism” which is the latest fad in Puna, and the increase in exposure, combined with a semi-religious outlook, really make for trouble.
Some people falsely believed that organic = safe and raw = safe. All of these beliefs make people more suceptible to not take the necessary precautions such as thorough washing. But because the nematode/worm is so small, even a very well-washed veggie may remain contaminated.

[mamelukesabre]

Oh, well they should be happy about that, right?

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Surely, global warming must be the root cause. /s

[FrankR]

It's a hawaii news release. Obama was just in Hawaii, how could he allow such to invade America. It's all obama's fault.

What is he doing about it?

Women and minorities hit worst.

Impeach him now. Obama is lying and people are dying.

[truthguy]

Many today have a strange belief that organic is necessarily better. That's to say more nutritious, better tasting , less harmful, etc. But the evidence of this is not to be found. There are many toxins and poisons that are found in nature. In a strange sense, the bite (poison) from a pit viper is organic. It certainly occurs “naturally”.

[truthguy]

Many today have a strange belief that organic is necessarily better. That's to say more nutritious, better tasting , less harmful, etc. But the evidence of this is not to be found. There are many toxins and poisons that are found in nature. In a strange sense, the bite (poison) from a pit viper is organic. It certainly occurs “naturally”.