General News of Thursday, 18 July 2024Source: www.ghanaweb.comUS Customs and Border Protection officials reportedly seized ninety (90) giant African snails from a passenger travelling from Ghana at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport last month. The passenger is said to have declared other prohibited items, including beef skin and fresh peppers, but failed to declare the giant snails. While giant African snails are considered a delicacy in most West African countries, the slimy gastropods, which can grow up to 8 inches, are considered invasive in the US and other Western countries. The US Department of Agriculture has said that giant African snails can pose serious health risks to humans, as they are known to carry the parasite rat lungworm, which can cause meningitis. In 2023, live giant African snails were found in the suitcase of a traveller who had also arrived from Ghana at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

Source: GhanaWeb July 18, 2024 22:13 UTC