Kava blamed for 2 ratlung cases in Hawaii

[kastom_lif]

http://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2...-blamed-for-two-rat-lungworm-cases-in-hawaii/

Before anybody panics, this was from buckets of kava left out where slugs could have crawled directly into the beverage. There is no evidence that ratlung is in properly washed fresh ʻawa roots, and there is especially little chance of finding live parasites in dry or frozen root.

And before you decide to swear off Hawaiian kava for other kinds... remember that ratlung is endemic all over the Pacific. Just don't leave an open container of ANY beverage out where slugs might get in it.

 

[Alia]

Yes, this is a News Story which was, temporarily, big here in Hawai'i. Concerns settled down when the folks consuming the 'awa beverage revealed they had left the bucket(s) OUT overnight! I believe in a carport or porch.

 

[ThePiper]

This story was brought up several months back. Soumds like a nasty parasite.

 

[The Kap'n]

Yeah, I remember when this happened a year ago. No making kava at the botanical snail & slug gardens.

 

[Krunkie McKrunkface]

Yeah, I remember when this happened a year ago. No making kava at the botanical snail & slug gardens.

I hear they leave chem trails.

 

[Intrepidus_dux]

Wowzas! I noticed a person commented on the article asking if freezing the awa would help. It’s a good question! Seems like covering it to begin with would be easiest though.

 

[Crunked]

Ratlung infection can be catastrophic: https://nypost.com/2018/03/07/man-who-ate-slug-on-dare-now-paralyzed/