Rat lungworm documentary on PBS next week
The documentary “Accidental Host” about the dangers of rat lungworm disease will re-air on PBS Hawaii at 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 16 and at 1 p.m. on Feb. 19.
The 53-minute documentary shares the story of patients and experts from Hawaii, Florida, California and Jamaica, and discusses the foodborne parasite known as Angiostrongylus cantonensis that invades the human brain.
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“My goal in producing ‘Accidental Host’ was actually three-fold: to raise awareness among at-risk individuals in multiple affected areas, to alert health care professionals, and to create a compelling, accessible documentary for anyone interested in science and a fascinating parasite now present in tropical areas of six continents,” Claire Panosian Dunavan, producer, co-writer and professor of infectious diseases at the University of California at Los Angeles, said in a press release.
The documentary includes interviews with leading global experts like Dr. Vernon Ansdell, who currently chairs the Hawaii Governor’s Task Force on Rat Lungworm Disease, and Esperanza “Espie” Hilton, a 25-year nurse from Hilo Medical Center who shares her personal experience as a patient.
“As the disease spreads across the mainland and to other countries, our goal is to try and stop these tragedies from happening across the world,” said Ansdell during a panel discussion about the documentary in November. “The only way we’re going to get early diagnosis and treatment, to get the chance to prevent these life-changing consequences that result from this disease, is by educating and giving information to the general public and to medical personnel.”
For more information and to watch a trailer, visit www.ratlungwormfilm.com.
