HAWAII – The state of Hawaii has established a Joint Task Force to combat the threat of rat lungworm disease in the islands.

The Hawaii State Department of Health and the East Hawaii Liaison to the Office of the Governor announced the formation of the task force today, in order to share scientific knowledge in the application of diagnostics, treatment, mitigation and public education activities.

The members of the task force are:

• Wil Okabe (Facilitator), East Hawaii Governor’s Liaison Office
• Robert Cowie, Ph.D., Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa
• Robert Hollingsworth, Ph.D., U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• Sue Jarvi, Ph.D., School of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii at Hilo
• Jerry Kahana, Hawaii State Department of Agriculture
• Kenton Kramer, Ph.D., Department of Tropical Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM)
• John Martell, M.D., Hilo Medical Center
• Marian Melish, M.D., Pediatric Infectious Disease, Kapiolani Medical Center
• Donn Mende, Research and Development, County of Hawaii
• DeWolfe Miller, Ph.D., Tropical Medicine Microbiology and Pharmacology, JABSOM
• Peter Oshiro, Sanitation Branch, DOH
• Sarah Park, M.D., F.A.A.P., State Epidemiologist, DOH
• Joanna Seto, Save Drinking Water Branch, DOH
• Aaron Ueno, Hawaii District Health Office, DOH
• Chris Whelen, Ph.D., State Laboratories Division, DOH
• Jonnie Yates, M.D., Kaiser Permanente

Rat lungworm disease has hit Hawaii Island – and Puna in particular – hardest of all. The sickness is caused by a nematode; a roundworm parasite called Angiostrongylus cantonensis. The state says the parasitic nematode can be passed from the feces of infected rodents to snails, slugs and certain other animals, which become intermediate hosts for the parasite. Humans can become infected when they consume infected raw or undercooked intermediate hosts. Although some people who become infected don’t show any symptoms, others can be stricken with severe headaches, stiffness of the neck, tingling or painful feelings in the skin or extremities, low-grade fever, nausea, and vomiting. Temporary paralysis of the face and light sensitivity can also occur. The infection is also known to cause a rare type of meningitis (eosinophilic meningitis).

“Establishing a joint task force with local experts in the medical field and leaders in government will produce a set of best practices that be used to target rat lungworm disease not only on Hawaii Island, but on a statewide scale as well,” said Wil Okabe, East Hawaii Liaison to the Office of the Governor. “There is no specific treatment yet identified for this disease, so finding the best ways to prevent its spread and educate the public is crucial.”

RELATED VIDEO: April 2015