A PARASITIC worm that jumps from rats to slugs to human brains has invaded the US, researchers warn.
Rat lungworm was spotted in a fifth of rats at an Atlanta zoo between 2019 and 2022.
The bug can cause severe stomach and nerve issues in humans, including nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness, and headaches.
The infections in Atlanta suggest there is sustained transmission in the area, experts said.
Dr Nicole Gottdenker, of the University of Georgia, said: “The zoonotic parasite was introduced to and has become established in a new area of the southeastern United States.”