Overview

• University of Sydney researchers recorded 93 cases of rat lungworm in dogs from 2019 to 2024, with infections rising annually and peaking at 32 cases in 2022.
• The increase has been tied to heavier rainfall and La Niña-driven blooms of snails and slugs that transmit the Angiostrongylus cantonensis parasite.
• Analysis shows infection risk is highest two to ten months after heavy rain, defining a critical window for heightened surveillance and intervention.
• Human infections, though rare, can lead to severe meningitis and neurological damage, and Australia has documented two fatalities linked to the disease.
• NSW Health recommends avoiding contact with slugs and snails, thoroughly washing fresh produce, and practicing strict hand hygiene after gardening to reduce transmission.