Hawaii has experienced a dramatic increase in serious cases of rat lungworm disease among residents and visitors in the past 10 years. Most infections with the parasite that causes this disease are preventable, but some health officials say comprehensive prevention efforts have lagged despite the severity of the current outbreak.
Hawaii has experienced a dramatic increase in serious cases of rat lungworm disease among residents and visitors in the past 10 years. Most infections with the parasite that causes this disease are preventable, but some health officials say comprehensive prevention efforts have lagged despite the severity of the current outbreak.
The Lyman Museum will host a presentation next week by Dr. Susan Jarvi, professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii at Hilo, who will provide critical information about the rat lungworm parasite, including life cycle, disease carriers, exposure risk, diagnostic testing and proven prevention measures.
Jarvi’s lab focuses on understanding host-parasite relationships using the avian malaria/avian pox disease system as a model. Since 2012, the lab has focused more efforts on rat lungworm disease education and research.
She and colleagues founded the Hawaii Island Rat Lungworm Working group in 2012, and they have made considerable progress in promoting prevention of the disease through education and outreach, and research on infection levels in molluscs and rats, exposure levels in humans, prevention through vaccination, and improvement in human diagnostics.
Jarvi will be accompanied by Dr. Jon Martell of the Hilo Medical Center, who will review the clinical aspects of the disease in humans, sharing information about clinical signs and symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.
The public will have two opportunities to attend the presentation — from 7-8:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 14, and a matinee from 3-4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15.
The program is part of Lyman’s Saigo Public Program lecture series. Admission is free to museum members, $3 for nonmembers.
About the museum
The nationally accredited and Smithsonian-affiliated Lyman Museum showcases the natural and cultural history of Hawaii. Located in historic downtown Hilo at 276 Haili St., the museum is open from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
For more information, call 935-5021 or visit www.lymanmuseum.org.