Raccoons are interesting animals, with their unique faces and smart tricks. But these fuzzy thieves can bring you more than just a sense of wonder. They can also be dangerous to your health. The raccoon roundworm, or Baylisascaris procyonis, is one of the most dangerous. In this blog post, we’ll talk about what raccoon roundworm is, why it’s dangerous, and how to protect your health and home from this secret danger.
How to Know About the Raccoon Roundworm
Raccoon roundworm is a parasitic worm that mostly affects raccoons, but if it gets to people or other animals, it can cause serious problems. Raccoons get roundworms when they eat the eggs of other sick raccoons, which are usually found in their poop. In the raccoon’s bowels, these eggs hatch into larvae, and the raccoon then poop out more eggs.
How does Raccoon Roundworm get around?
Raccoon roundworm can spread to people when roundworm eggs are accidentally eaten or breathed in. There are several ways this can happen:
Soil Pollution: Raccoon poop can have thousands of roundworm eggs in it. When raccoons poop in or near your home, the eggs they leave behind can make the land dirty. Then, people and pets can touch the eggs when they are gardening or playing.
If you disturb raccoon poop, whether on purpose or by accident, roundworm eggs can be released into the air as dust particles. If you breathe in these particles, you could get sick.
Getting roundworm eggs on your hands through direct contact with raccoon poop can happen if you don’t wear gloves. The eggs can then get into your body if you touch your face, mouth, or food.
The dangers to health
Visceral Larva Migrans is a disease in which roundworm larvae move through the organs of a person who has been infected by a raccoon roundworm. Symptoms can be different, but they could be:
Feeling sick Tired
Inability to work together
Comatose Blindness
In the worst cases, even death
Children can get very sick from these signs because they are more likely to play in places where people have been sick.
How to Keep Your Health and Home Safe
Because raccoon roundworm could be dangerous to your health, it’s important to take the following steps to protect yourself and your family:
Avoid Coming in Contact: Never try to clean up raccoon poop without the right gear. If you think there are raccoons in or around your house, call a professional to get rid of them and clean up.
Thoroughly Wash Your Hands: After working in your yard or touching soil, you should always wash your hands with soap and water to avoid eating roundworm eggs.
Protect your dogs by keeping them away from raccoon poop and getting rid of any raccoon waste right away.
Professional Cleanup: If raccoons have been in your attic or other parts of your home, hire people who know how to clean up after wild animals. They know how to remove feces safely and have the tools to clean up the damaged areas.
In conclusion,
Raccoon roundworm is a hidden health threat that can cause major problems if it is not taken care of properly. It’s important to know how it spreads and avoid coming into touch with raccoon poop. If raccoons get into your home, never try to clean them up on your own. Instead, hire professionals who can safely get rid of these masked intruders and reduce the health risks they bring.
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