Coyotes Along The West Coast Show New Health Risks For Humans and Pets

Researchers have found a dangerous tape worm in coyotes on the west coast. It is a parasite that festers in these animals and can infect pets and humans. It has been making its way across the United States for the last 15 years.

Public Health Alert: The Risks to Pets and Humans

The coyotes and other wild animals like wolves get the parasite from eating raw rodents meat. It is call E. multilocularis and can be spread to dogs and humans causing sickness, and in some cases even death.

They tested 100 coyotes in the state of Washington and found 37 of them were infected with the parasite. The high number of infected animals has health experts making the public aware of how it is spread and the symptoms.

Understanding Transmission: How E. multilocularis Spreads

Humans and their pets can pick up the tape worm by interacting with an infected animal or even touching and handling dirt containing the feces of an infected animal. People ingest it when it gets on their hands and then they touch their mouth.

The parasite invades the lungs or the liver and a cyst begins to grow there. Symptoms may take years to appear but usually involve pain in the stomach. In the lungs it may induce short breath and bouts of coughing.

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The good news is it is relatively rare in developed countries. Washing your hands and keeping your dog up to date with the vet should keep you from contracting the tape worm. It is good to be aware of this new threat that has made its way into the west.