- Title: Destructive African land snail spreading in the Dominican Republic
- Date: 25th January 2018
- Summary: BAVARO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (RECENT) (REUTERS) ROAD SIGN PEOPLE WALKING DOWN BEACH BEACH WITH TOURISTS AND SHOPS HIGUEY, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (RECENT) (REUTERS) SNAIL IN TREE TWO SNAILS ON WALL SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (RECENT) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DANILO SEVERINO, PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHING PROFESSIONALS, SAYING: "This fearsome snail-- one of the 100 worst plagues in the world-- is of concern to us. It entered through the Cocotal complex and has already spread more than 15 kilometres from where it was first detected." BAVARO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (RECENT) (REUTERS) BOAT IN WATER EXTERIOR OF COCOTAL GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB WITH CARS DRIVING IN AND OUT SIGN FOR COCOTAL GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB CARS DRIVING IN AND OUT SIGN FOR GOLF SUITES HIGUEY, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SNAILS ON WALL SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (RECENT) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DANILO SEVERINO, PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHING PROFESSIONALS, SAYING: "This mollusc transmits very dangerous diseases and we want this terrible mollusc eradicated in our country." HIGUEY, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (RECENT) (REUTERS) SNAIL IN TREE TWO SNAILS ON WALL SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (RECENT) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) YOLANDA GUZMAN MARCELINO, HEALTH MINISTER FOR THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, SAYING: "Up to now, there is no person-to-person transmission. It transmits a parasite but no person-to-person transmission. (The issue is) the person who comes in contact themselves with the snail which is why we are recommending that if you see a snail, do not put your hand on it." HIGUEY, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (RECENT) (REUTERS) CLOSE-UP OF SNAIL
- Embargoed: 8th February 2018 21:25
- Keywords: African snail infestation plague beach tourism
- Location: BAVARO, HIGUEY AND SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
- City: BAVARO, HIGUEY AND SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
- Country: Dominican Republic
- Reuters ID: LVA0017ZM3L8J
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:The Dominican Republic is fighting an infestation of one of the world's most destructive invasive species: the giant African land snail, which can grow as big as a rat and gnaw through stucco and plaster.
The snail, which attacks hundreds of species of plants and thrives in the subtropical climate, was reportedly first spotted in November of 2016 in the easternmost Punta Cana part of the country, at the golf complex of El Cocotal hotel.
The long-living destructive mollusc has been spreading throughout the Caribbean and southern U.S. for years and has been spotted in Barbados, Cuba and in the U.S. state of Florida.
A typical snail can produce about 1,200 eggs a year and the creatures are a particular pest in homes because of their fondness for stucco, devoured for the calcium content they need for their shells.
The snails also carry a parasitic rat lungworm that can cause illness in humans, including a form of meningitis.
Dominican authorities have stressed to residents and tourists not to touch the animal but workers are concerned the government has not done enough to stop the spread of the exotic species. They are calling for officials to check all vehicles, luggage and baggage leaving areas that are known to be infested. Scientists hypothesise the spreading of the snails is the result of tourism. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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