Live Worm Found in Australian Woman's Brain in World First

Arthur T Knackerbracket writes:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-66643241

In a world first, scientists say an 8cm (3in) worm has been found alive in the brain of an Australian woman.

The "string-like structure" was pulled from the patient's damaged frontal lobe during surgery in Canberra last year.

"It was definitely not what we were expecting. Everyone was shocked," said operating surgeon Dr Hari Priya Bandi.

The woman, 64, had for months suffered symptoms like stomach pain, a cough and night sweats, which evolved into forgetfulness and depression.

[...] Her case is believed to be the first instance of a larvae invasion and development in the human brain, researchers said in the Emerging Infectious Diseases journal which reported the case.
'I pulled it out... and it was happily moving'

[...] "Even if you take away the yuck factor, this is a new infection never documented before in a human being."

Researchers warn the case highlights the increased danger of diseases and infections being passed from animals to people.

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