Giant African land snails can produce up to 2,500 eggs per year.
Photo: Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP/Getty Images
A Florida county is under quarantine following 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 on June 23, the FDACS website noted.
According to FDACS public information director Christina Chitty, speaking to CNN, snails pose a health risk to humans because they carry a parasite called rat lungwormwhich can cause meningitis.
Also, annually this species can produce up to 2,500 eggs per yearmaking it a difficult population to control.
The population in Pasco County possibly originated from the illegal pet trade. Giant African land snails are illegal as pets in the United States. However, some exotic pet owners do possess these invasive pests, Chitty noted.
If owners abandon these snails in the wild or accidentally lose them, might quickly establish themselves 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 June 25, and prevents residents from moving the snail or related items such as plants and soil into or out of the designated quarantine area.
Authorities advised residents who think they have seen a giant African land snail to call the FDACS hotline, and avoid touching the snail without gloves because of the risk of contracting meningitis.
Chitty also noted that FDACS plans to spend three years eradicating the population in Pasco County, using the pesticide metaldehyde to treat the soil.
With information from CNN
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