Following weeks of rainfall in Guangdong, residents in Zhuhai have reported large numbers of giant African snails on sidewalks and roadside vegetation across the city. Authorities are urging the public not to touch or eat them.
The species is Lissachatina fulica, commonly known as the giant African snail. It was among the first 16 invasive alien species officially listed in China. The snails leave their hiding places after heavy rain because humid conditions suit their activities; prolonged submergence may kill them.
Though slow-moving and seemingly harmless, the species poses documented health risks.
It can act as an intermediate host for parasites and pathogens that affect both humans and livestock, including Angiostrongylus cantonensis, the rat lungworm. Its larvae can invade the central nervous system and cause eosinophilic meningitis. Symptoms include persistent fever and headache, and severe cases can be fatal.
The snails also carry multiple bacteria on their surface. Direct skin contact can cause dermatitis, itching, and swelling. Infected snails shed larvae in their mucus and feces, meaning vegetables, towels, and other surfaces they crawl across may be contaminated with residual pathogens.
Chinese entomologist Zhao Li noted that wild snails are particularly likely to harbor parasites and bacteria. He advised the public not to keep them as pets or eat them, whether cooked or uncooked.
When you see a giant African snail...
Do:
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds, then disinfect your hands with 75% alcohol if you have touched the snails or their mucus.
Rinse vegetables under running water for 30 seconds, then soak them in produce sanitizer for 10 minutes, paying particular attention to the underside of leafy greens.
Sprinkle coffee grounds or quicklime powder in areas where the snails appear, and clear leaf litter from gutters weekly.
Don't:
Let children pick up the snails as toys. One widely reported case involved a 10-year-old boy who developed meningitis after playing with a giant African snail.
Do not assume ordinary heating makes them safe for consumption. Quick stir-frying or brief boiling fails to eliminate all internal parasites.
If large numbers appear in a residential compound, do not spray pesticides yourself, as this can contaminate water sources. Notify property management or a licensed pest-control company instead.
Author | Feng Huiting
Photo | Nanfang Plus
