Florida
The Killer Giant Snail That Has A Florida Town Under Quarantine Explained
Topline
A South Florida county was put under quarantine on Tuesday after an infestation of the invasive giant African land snail was identified in the hopes of eradicating the dangerous mollusk, which can spread meningitis.
Key Facts
Parts of Broward County Florida went under quarantine on Tuesday amid an infestation of the giant African land snail, which first appeared in the city of Miramar earlier this month.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said in a statement that under the quarantine—which encompasses 3.5 square miles—it’s illegal for residents to move the snails or a regulated item like plants, soil, debris, yard waste and building materials within or from the quarantine area without permission (they are able to leave their homes).
The statement also reports these snails can carry a parasite called rat lungworm, which is known to cause meningitis in humans, which can be deadly.
It’s illegal to import or own the giant African land snail in the U.S. because the species poses such a great risk to the country’s agriculture and human health, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture—in addition to parasites, the snails can carry salmonella and bacteria.
There are two treatment areas where snail bait is released, outlined by a map the department released—treatment includes a snail bait called metaldehyde-based molluscicide, which is safe for residential use.
These snails are very invasive and can cause a lot of damage to the ecosystem and pose a significant food security risk as they eat and contaminate hundreds of different plant species and building exteriors, like plaster, stucco and paint.
Fully grown adult giant African land snails are identified by their brownish, striped shells and can grow up to eight inches long and weigh over two pounds, New York Invasive Species Information reports.
Surprising Fact
The giant African land snail is so large that it’s disqualified from competing in the World Snail Racing Championships, National Geographic reports.
Key Background
The snails were declared eradicated twice in Florida. They first appeared in Miami in 1966 and over 18,000 snails and their eggs were destroyed by 1973. It took 10 years and $1 million to eradicate them, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. They were then reintroduced in 2011, and were completely eradicated in Broward and Miami County in 2021, a culmination of another decade-long battle which resulted in the destruction of 160,000 snails. State officials set a quarantine for Pasco County, north of Tampa, last summer after at least one confirmed sighting. This led to the capture of around 1,000 snails. These snails reproduce rapidly because each snail can lay up to 1,200 eggs a year. They are very invasive and one of the most damaging snail species in the world. They eat around 500 different plants, including cucumbers, peas, beans, ornamental plants and melons, and can also consume tree bark, stucco, paint on buildings and plaster. The snails are native to East Africa and thrive in warm, tropical climates.
Tangent
Parasitic meningitis, though less common than bacterial and viral meningitis, can be fatal and cause inflammation around the brain and spinal cord. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, infection is typically caused by consumption of a contaminated animal or produce, and human to human spread is rare. The parasite can cause severe central nervous system and gastrointestinal damage in humans and a rare form of parasitic meningitis called eosinophilic meningitis (EM). Symptoms of parasitic meningitis include nausea, stiff neck, vomiting, headache, confusion and eye sensitivity to light. Those with EM might experience a low-grade fever, tingling or pain in the skin, weakness or paralysis, a coma, loss of coordination or death. There isn’t a specific treatment for EM, but medication may be given to ease the symptoms, like pain medicine for headaches.
Further Reading
Fungal Meningitis Outbreak In Mexico Kills 2 After Cosmetic Surgeries. Here’s What We Know—And Symptoms And Treatment. (Forbes)
Florida
In-Game Updates: Ole Miss Football Continues Playoff Quest vs. Florida in Gainesville
The No. 9 Ole Miss Rebels have reinserted themselves into the College Football Playoff conversation, but in order to remain there, they have to win their final two regular season games, beginning on Saturday against the Florida Gators.
The Rebels (8-2, 4-2 SEC) have won three straight games since their overtime loss to LSU in Baton Rouge on Oct. 12, and after a bye week that followed a huge win over the Georgia Bulldogs, Ole Miss appears to be as healthy as it’s been all season entering this game against the Gators.
Running back Logan Diggs (who looked like he might see his first action as a Rebel this week after suffering an ACL injury last season with LSU) will not suit up in this game, but wide receiver Tre Harris is returning, and the Ole Miss defensive line appears to have a clean bill of health, according to the latest injury report from the Southeastern Conference.
According to the current betting odds at FanDuel Sportsbook, Ole Miss is a 12.5-point favorite in Saturday’s game against Florida. Can the Rebels pull off the road win and remain in the CFP hunt? Follow along below for in-game updates from the contest in Gainesville set to kick off at 11 a.m. CT.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
PREGAME
As noted above, Ole Miss is rather healthy entering this contest, outside of the running back position. Wide receiver Izaiah Hartrup and running backs Henry Parrish Jr., Logan Diggs and Rashad Amos are listed as “out” in this contest, but no other Rebel made the latest injury report. That’s a good sign for Lane Kiffin’s team as it enters a hostile road environment.
It was also announced on Thursday night that Ole Miss will be using one of its road uniform combinations for the third time this season: powder blue helmets, white jerseys and white pants. This particular combination with the new white jerseys has only been worn twice all-time (both of which resulted in wins during the 2024 campaign).
You can view the uniform below modeled by cornerback Trey Amos.
Florida
Who is Brady Singer? Reds’ new pitcher was Jonathan India’s Florida Gators teammate
Terry Francona joins the Reds as their new Manager
Terry Francona joins the Reds as their new Manager.
Brady Singer, the right-handed starting pitcher the Cincinnati Reds acquired Friday in a trade of Jonathan India and Joey Wiemer to the Kansas City Royals, was India’s teammate with the University of Florida Gators from 2016 to 2018.
Singer and India were separated by just 13 picks in the 2018 MLB draft, with the Reds selecting India fifth overall and the Royals taking Singer 18th.
Together they helped the Gators to the 2017 College World Series championship. Singer started and won two games in the CWS. India was a key contributor for the 2017 team despite an injury, and he earned SEC Player of the Year honors as a 2018 All-American, lifting Florida to a 2018 CWS win in an elimination game with an RBI single and three-run homer against Texas.
Singer was the Royals’ first-round pick in 2018.
The Baltimore Orioles’ Grayson Rodriguez (11th overall) and the Seattle Mariners’ Logan Gilbert (14th), among the top pitchers in the American League last season, were two of the players selected between India at fifth overall and Singer at 18th.
Later in the first round, the Royals also took Jackson Kowar, a Florida teammate of India and Singer, 33rd overall.
At Florida, Singer posted a 23-10 record and 3.22 ERA. In his final college season, Singer was named Baseball America National Player of the Year, and won the Dick Howser Trophy as the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association’s top college baseball player.
Singer’s high school, Florida’s Eustis HS, produced another former Reds draft pick.
Catcher Chris Okey starred at Eustis, a couple of years before Singer. He played three seasons at Clemson before the Reds made him their second-round pick in the 2016 MLB draft. Okey had two hits in 13 plate appearances for the Reds in 2022.
Singer played at Tavares High School and transferred to Eustis before his senior season. He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the second round of the 2015 MLB draft, but opted instead to pitch for the Gators.
Singer pitched six shutout innings at GABP in the Royals’ win against the Reds in August.
Singer scattered five hits and walked one while striking out six in Kansas City’s 8-1 win. India had one of those five hits.
It was the only start out of 10 Singer made in August and September that he won.
Singer’s only other career start against the Reds came in July 2021. He allowed one run on five hits and a walk while striking out six over six innings in a no-decision. India walked and singled off of Singer.
Singer struck out the only batter he faced in the 2024 postseason.
In Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees, Singer entered a 2-2 game in the top of the 7th inning and struck out American League MVP Aaron Judge to end the inning.
One inning later, the Royals’ Kris Bubic gave up a solo home run to Giancarlo Stanton, which proved to be the difference in a 3-2 win.
Florida
ACC v FSU Update: 11 States Join Florida, File Brief To Protect Sovereign Immunity
More than 10 states have joined the State of Florida in an amicus brief to support its fight over state’s rights after a North Carolina judge ruled Florida State University (a public university) waived its “sovereign immunity” by voluntarily dealing with the Atlantic Coast Conference
READ MORE: Former FBS Coach With Ties To Mike Norvell Spotted At Florida State’s Practice
Earlier this year, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody sued the ACC after it failed to provide the details of the Grant of Rights agreement between the Conference and ESPN, which has been one of the focal points of both lawsuits.
Mecklenburg County (North Carolina) Judge Louis A. Bledsoe ruled that Florida State waived its sovereign immunity by being a member of the Conference, making the secrecy of the agreement between the ACC and ESPN legitimate.
The ACC has since released the (heavily redacted) details of the Grant of Rights agreement.
AG Moody claims the agreement is public record under Florida law, but the ACC – and Mecklenburg County Judge Louis A. Bledsoe – disagrees.
AG Moody’s argument in the lawsuit is that it does not matter if Florida State does business with the ACC outside of state lines, all records – due to Florida law – are public records.
The states alongside Florida involved in the amicus brief supporting the FSU Board of Trustees include Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Utah.
Part of the amicus brief states:
“Each of the fifty states enjoys immunity under the U.S. Constitution from lawsuits to which they have not consented. Embracing a long history of sovereign immunity, the Constitution requires a state’s consent before a federal court or another state’s court can exercise jurisdiction over that state. The States have an interest in preserving the rights secured to them and their constituent institutions by the U.S. Constitution, including the immunity of their public universities from suit in other states’ courts without the States’ clear and unequivocal consent.”
In short, the states believe the ruling from Judge Bledsoe – should it become precedent – threatens the authority of each individual state guaranteed by the Constitution.
It is uncertain how this brief will affect the ongoing competing lawsuits between FSU and the Atlantic Coast Conference, but it could result in the case being thrown out and solidify a precedent protecting state’s rights.
READ MORE: Kickoff Time, TV Info Announced For FSU’s Rivalry Game Against Florida Gators
Stick with NoleGameday for more FREE coverage of Florida State Football throughout the 2024 Season
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• FSU Head Coach Mike Norvell Provides Ideal Timeline For Coaching Hires
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