A Florida county is under quarantine after the discovery of a population of giant African land snails whose population has been growing.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services ( FDACS) confirmed the presence of giant African land snails in the New Port Richey area of Pasco County last June , pointed out the FDACS website.
According to Christina Chitty, the director of public information for the FDACS in statements to CNN, snails pose a risk to the health of human beings because they are carriers of a parasite called rat lungworm, which can cause meningitis.
Furthermore, this species can produce up to 2 annually,500 eggs per year, making it a difficult population to control.
The population in Pasco County is likely to originated from the illegal pet trade. Giant African land snails are illegal as pets in the United States. However, some exotic pet owners do carry these invasive pests, Chitty noted.
If owners abandon these snails in the wild or accidentally lose them, they could quickly become established by feeding on more than 500 different plant species and even consuming the paint and stucco of the houses, which serve as a source of calcium, Chitty added.
The director noted that the department is currently investigating the population and determining how many snails exist in Pasco County. These snails are native to East Africa and can grow up to 20 centimeters long.
The quarantine began on 25 June, and prevents residents from moving the snail or related items such as plants and soil inside or outside the designated quarantine area.
Authorities advised residents who think they have seen a snail call the FDACS hotline, and avoid touching the snail without gloves due to the risk of contracting meningitis.
Chitty also noted that the FDACS plans to spend three years eradicating the population in Pasco County, using the pesticide metaldehyde to treat soil.
With information from CNN