A fox parasite that can spread to dogs and humans has made another appearance in the Pacific Northwest, researchers at Washington State University said Tuesday.
Commonly known as the fox tapeworm, Echinococcus multilocularis is native to Europe and Asia. It infects foxes and coyotes, and can also affect dogs. When it affects humans, researchers said, it can make them ill with a rare but serious disease called alveolar echinococcosis, one of the most deadly parasitic infections known.
The disease can lie dormant in the body for years, silently destroying the liver before symptoms become noticeable, researchers said. Symptoms can develop five to 15 years after contracting the parasite and include upper abdominal pain, weakness, weight loss and jaundice. Research says the symptoms can often be confused with liver cancer. The World Health Organization estimates it affects more than 18,000 people globally every year…