COURTESY PHOTOS
A semi-slug shown on a nickel on the Big Island. A rising number of rat lungworm cases in Hawaii could be blamed on a recent influx on Maui of a semi-slug that can carry the disease, according to the state health department.
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Let’s hope that this week’s funding drama over rat lungworm disease was due to an oversight snafu — and not any personal or political animosity that stands to endanger public health.
As of Friday morning, the state Health Department had been allocated $1 million more to combat the disease, which recently has made local and national headlines — money it hadn’t even asked for.
Problem was, that diverted funding from University of Hawaii-Hilo lab experts who have been at the very forefront of research as well as education and prevention campaigns.
There was talk about clashes between the UH-Hilo team and state health officials. Get past it, folks, and do what it takes to work together. With two more rat lungworm cases just confirmed, for a statewide total of 13, the state can ill afford to let any ill will fester.