Invasive giant African snail (Lissachatina fulica) has invaded school campuses in Tirunavaya panchayat,raising health alarms for students,teachers . Snails crawl over playgrounds,walls,classrooms. Managing infestation now daily struggle for educators .
Health experts warn these snails carry rat lungworm parasite (Angiostrongylus cantonensis),known to cause eosinophilic meningitis. Mucus from snails may trigger allergic reactions . Keerthy Vijayan from Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) stressed need for precautions in schools where kids are vulnerable.
“Tirunavaya has faced this infestation for years. Children on school campuses are more likely to come into contact with the snails and their mucus,and they are least aware of the health risks,”Vijayan stated. She noted hospitals in Kochi reporting rise in eosinophilic meningitis cases,especially for children under 10.
With these health risks,Vijayan urged teachers,parents to act—keep snails out of classrooms,bathrooms. Suggested mesh screens as preventive step. Residents using salt,tobacco-copper sulfate mixes to fight snails,while health workers advise gloves when handling.
Salman Karimpanakkal,teacher and environmental activist,called for coordinated effort from civic authorities to tackle growing infestation . Giant African snail,from East Africa,listed by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as one of 100 worst invasive species. Introduced to India in 1847,first reported in Kerala in 1950s.
Spread significantly in 1970s,again in 2005—by then only few districts affected . But by 2022,it reached all 14 districts of Kerala,over 270 locations reported sightings in 2023. Snail not just nuisance,also carrier of disease-causing organisms,including those linked to septicemia,peritonitis…
