PAHOA, HAWAII – A Rat Lungworm Awareness Forum was held at the Pahoa Community Center this past Sunday, and the topic drew a large crowd of concerned residents.

Puna has been described as ground zero in the United States for the disease. Smiley Burrows, who helped put the event together, says her family has recently come to know the terrible sickness first hand. Her son was diagnosed with rat lungworm a few weeks ago.

Dr. Susan Jarvi with the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy is a leading scientist studying the disease. On Sunday, Jarvi made a presentation to the crowd.

Jarvi also explained the latest research being done on the role water catchments might play in contracting the disease.

ARCHIVE: Rat Lungworm Disease stories on BIVN

LINK: Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy Rat Lungworm Page