Officials stated that certain neighborhoods in Broward County, Florida, are currently under quarantine due to the presence of invasive giant African land snails, a highly dangerous species.
The quarantine was announced on Tuesday following the detection of these snails earlier this month in the Miramar area.
Per the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the quarantine prohibits the transportation of giant African land snails or related items like plants, soil, compost, and yard waste into or out of the area without a compliance agreement from the agriculture department.
The state authorities have designated two treatment areas within the quarantine zone, as depicted in a released map.
They intend to employ metaldehyde-based molluscicide, a snail bait approved for residential use, using the same treatment method as mentioned in the news release.
Notably, a similar quarantine was implemented last year in the New Port Richey area of Pasco County when the snails were initially discovered.
These giant African land snails are capable of consuming over 500 plant species and can even damage stucco, plastic recycling bins, and signs. Their sharp-edged calcium shells can puncture tires of vehicles that run over them.
Moreover, the Florida Department of Agriculture expressed concerns about the potential devastation these snails could cause to the state’s agriculture and natural areas due to the extensive damage they inflict on tropical and subtropical environments.
Furthermore, the snails carry a parasite called rat lungworm, which poses a health risk to humans, potentially leading to meningitis characterized by inflammation of the brain and spinal cord membranes, as per the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.