Health
Raccoon roundworm infections reported in Los Angeles County, health officials warn
A rare parasitic infection known as raccoon roundworm has been confirmed in Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
Two people in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County have been diagnosed with the infection, Baylisascaris procyonis, which is caused by a parasitic worm from the raccoon’s intestines.
When it infects humans, the parasite can affect the brain, spinal cord and eyes, potentially causing brain swelling and eye disease, the health department warned.
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After maturing in the raccoon’s intestines, the worms produce eggs that are then passed with the animal’s feces, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A rare parasitic infection known as raccoon roundworm has been confirmed in Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. (iStock)
After two to four weeks, the eggs become infectious. The eggs can survive for years in the right conditions.
“Aside from its natural host, the raccoon, some accidentally infected species include domestic dogs and humans,” Erica Susky, a certified infection control practitioner based in Canada, told Fox News Digital.
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“The roundworm infects new hosts via ingestion of the infective larval stage, either by eating the infected host or by ingestion of contaminated feces in the environment.”
Although it is rare, infection can happen when people accidentally ingest the roundworm’s eggs (which are in the raccoon’s feces) from soil, water or on contaminated objects, according to the CDC.
When it infects humans, the parasite can potentially cause eye disease, the health department warned. (iStock)
Young children and developmentally disabled persons are at the highest risk, as they are more likely to accidentally put contaminated fingers, soil or objects into their mouths, the CDC warned.
The infection cannot be transmitted among people.
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“While Baylisascariasis is rare in people and the risk to the general public is low at this time, it is concerning because a large number of raccoons live near people, and the infection rate in raccoons is likely high,” stated the LA health department.
The parasite is present in the U.S. and Canada, Susky noted, though it is more common in the Southern latitudes, the Northeast, the Midwest and the West coast.
“It is concerning because a large number of raccoons live near people, and the infection rate in raccoons is likely high.”
Fewer than 25 cases of raccoon roundworm have been reported in the U.S., the CDC noted, but the number may be larger due to misdiagnosis or lack of diagnosis.
As of 2018, there had been 23 confirmed cases and six deaths in the country.
Symptoms of raccoon roundworm
Effects of raccoon roundworm may vary depending on the volume of eggs consumed and where they travel in the body.
“Some of those infected have had no symptoms, known as subclinical infections,” Susky said.
Swelling of the brain is one adverse effect of raccoon roundworm, health experts warn. (iStock)
Larger numbers of eggs can lead to a variety of symptoms, including nausea, fatigue, enlarged liver, loss of muscle control, loss of coordination, blindness, coma and lack of attention to people and surroundings, according to the CDC.
Those at the highest risk of severe disease include children, adults 65 and older, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems, the agency warned.
Preventing infection
Studies show that up to 60% of infectious diseases in humans come from animals.
“Our health is closely linked to the health of the animals around us,” said Dr. Muntu Davis, a health officer with Los Angeles County, in the press release.
“Our health is closely linked to the health of the animals around us.”
“Simple precautions, like washing your hands regularly, avoiding direct contact with wild animals and their waste, keeping pets healthy, and preventing wildlife from sheltering or living in or next to our homes or properties can help keep our neighborhoods and families safe and healthy.”
The best means of prevention is to avoid contact with wild animals or birds whenever possible, including dead ones, according to Susky.
“One way to do this is to ensure that open attics and crawl spaces remain closed up, thus eliminating potential hiding places,” she said.
People are advised to keep pets indoors whenever possible, and to keep them on leashes when outdoors.
The infection, Baylisascaris procyonis, is caused by a parasitic worm from the raccoon’s intestines. (iStock)
“Take pets frequently to the veterinarian if they are outside for regular deworming, or to find out whether it is required and with what frequency, and seek veterinarian treatment if a pet becomes ill,” Susky recommended.
Hand-washing is especially crucial, she said, as eggs could inadvertently be in soil and water.
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“It is always good infection prevention to wash one’s hands frequently — for example, before preparing food or after contact with animals,” Susky added.
“And if one is spending time outdoors, they should wash their hands upon completing their outdoor activities.”
Hand-washing is especially crucial for prevention, experts say, as eggs could inadvertently be in soil and water. (iStock)
Adults should help remind children to wash their hands after playing outside, Susky advised, as they are more at risk of accidentally ingesting soil and water.
“For this reason, cover sandboxes when not in use, so that animals cannot use the sandbox for defecating or urinating,” she added.
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Fox News Digital reached out to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
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A popular class of weight-loss drugs may prevent life-threatening cardiac complications by opening microscopic blood vessels that often remain blocked after a heart attack, according to a study published this week in Nature Communications.
The research, led by the University of Bristol and University College London, identified a biological brain-gut-heart signaling pathway.
This discovery appears to explain how GLP-1 drugs — which mimic glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and appetite — protect heart tissue from a condition known as “no-reflow.”
“In nearly half of all heart attack patients, tiny blood vessels within the heart muscle remain narrowed, even after the main artery is cleared during emergency medical treatment,” Dr. Svetlana Mastitskaya, the study’s lead author and a senior lecturer at Bristol Medical School, said in a press release.
“This results in a complication known as ‘no-reflow,’ where blood is unable to reach certain parts of the heart tissue.”
In nearly half of all heart attack patients, tiny capillaries (blood vessels) remain narrowed even after the main blocked artery is cleared. (iStock)
This lack of blood flow increases the risk of heart failure and death within a year. GLP-1 medications could prevent this, according to the researchers.
How it works
When the GLP-1 hormone is released in the gut or administered as a drug, it sends a signal to the brain, which then sends a signal to the heart that switches on special potassium channels in tiny cells called pericytes.
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When these channels open, the pericytes relax, which allows the small blood vessels (capillaries) to widen and improve blood flow to the heart muscle, the researchers noted.
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The new study used animal models and cellular imaging to track how GLP-1 interacts with heart tissue. When the researchers removed the potassium channels, the drugs no longer protected the heart — confirming they play a key role.
The findings suggest that existing GLP-1 medications, already used for type 2 diabetes and obesity, could be repurposed as emergency treatments. (iStock)
The findings suggest that existing GLP-1 medications, already used for type 2 diabetes and obesity, could be repurposed as emergency treatments during or immediately after a heart attack to reduce tissue damage.
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The researchers noted several limitations, including that the study relied on animal models.
Clinical trials are necessary to determine whether the brain-gut-heart pathway operates with the same timing and efficacy in humans.
While the study highlights the drug’s immediate benefits during a heart attack, it des not establish whether long-term use of these drugs provides a pre-existing level of protection. (iStock)
Additionally, while the study highlights the drug’s immediate benefits during a heart attack, it does not establish whether long-term use of the medication provides a pre-existing level of protection.
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The research was primarily funded by the British Heart Foundation.
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Collagen supplements have exploded in popularity, touted as everything from an anti-aging miracle to a muscle recovery booster.
But a sweeping new review conducted by U.K. researchers suggests that while collagen may help improve skin elasticity and ease arthritis pain, it does little for athletic performance or wrinkle reduction.
Researchers from Anglia Ruskin University analyzed 16 systematic reviews and 113 randomized controlled trials involving nearly 8,000 participants worldwide, which they say is the most extensive evaluation of collagen’s health effects to date.
The review found consistent evidence that collagen supplementation improves skin elasticity and hydration over time and provides significant relief from osteoarthritis-related joint pain and stiffness, according to findings published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum.
A large U.K. review found that collagen supplements may improve skin elasticity and hydration over time. (iStock)
The researchers, however, did not find meaningful improvements in post-exercise muscle recovery, soreness or tendon mechanical properties (strength, springiness and stretch resistance).
“Collagen is not a cure-all, but it does have credible benefits when used consistently over time, particularly for skin and osteoarthritis,” co-author Lee Smith, professor of public health at Anglia Ruskin University, said in a statement.
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“Our findings show clear benefits in key areas of healthy aging, while also dispelling some of the myths surrounding its use,” Smith added.
Collagen, the most abundant protein in the body, supports skin, bones, tendons, cartilage and connective tissue, according to experts. Natural collagen production begins to drop in early adulthood and declines more sharply with age.
The study found that collagen supplements may help reduce joint pain and stiffness in people with osteoarthritis. (iStock)
The review found that long-term collagen supplementation was linked to improved skin firmness and hydration, but did not help skin roughness — a proxy for visible wrinkles.
Benefits appear to accumulate gradually, suggesting that collagen should not be viewed as an “anti-wrinkle ‘quick fix,’ but as a foundational dermal support for individuals seeking holistic skin maintenance,” the researchers said.
“If we define anti-aging as a product or technique designed to prevent the appearance of getting older, then I believe our findings do support this claim for some parameters,” Smith told the BBC. “For example, an improvement in skin tone and moisture is associated with a more youthful-looking appearance.”
Collagen supplementation was linked to reduced pain and stiffness in people with osteoarthritis, with stronger benefits seen over longer periods of use, and showed modest improvements in muscle mass and tendon structure that may support healthy aging.
Collagen did not significantly improve skin roughness, a marker of visible wrinkles. (iStock)
However, it did not show meaningful results when used as a fast-acting sports performance supplement, and evidence for benefits related to cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and oral health was mixed or inconclusive.
Dr. Daniel Ghiyam, a California-based physician and longevity specialist, said the findings align with what he sees in clinical practice.
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“Collagen is a targeted support tool, not a foundation of health or performance,” Ghiyam, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. “When marketed that way, it makes sense. When marketed as a cure-all, it doesn’t hold up to the data.”
The authors noted that while many previous collagen studies have received financial support from the supplement industry, the current review did not receive industry funding.
Experts say collagen supplements may offer modest benefits for skin hydration and joint comfort, but they are not a cure-all. (iStock)
The team called for more high-quality clinical trials examining long-term outcomes, optimal dosages and differences between collagen sources, such as marine, bovine and plant-based alternatives.
Among its limitations, the review could not determine whether certain forms of collagen work better than others or what the optimal regimen should be.
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While the review included randomized controlled trials, the quality of the studies varied, with newer research generally showing stronger results.
Experts say more data and studies are needed to build on the findings. They also noted that diet plays a crucial role in skin health.
Collagen supplements, often sold as powders or pills, may improve skin elasticity and ease joint pain, experts say. (iStock)
Dr. Erum Ilyas, a Pennsylvania-based dermatologist and chair of dermatology at Drexel University College of Medicine, noted that the review analyzed previously published meta-analyses rather than generating new primary data.
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“At this time, I have not seen sufficiently strong independent evidence to routinely recommend collagen supplements to my patients,” Ilyas, who was not involved in the review, told Fox News Digital.
“Although some studies show modest improvements in markers such as hydration and elasticity, there remains limited independent, biopsy-confirmed evidence demonstrating sustained increases in dermal collagen content,” she added.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the researchers for comment.
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