Parasitic worms found across US parks put kids, pet owners at risk

toxocariasis, can be caused by an infection with a roundworm found in canines and felines. It's classified into a group of five parasitic diseases that have been targeted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for public health action.

An infection can cause serious illness, including organ damage and eye disease.HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER ON TVAnd while these types of infections are often associated with tropical areas, they are currently present in the U.S.Eggs of the tiny worm which are found in pets' fecal matter have been widely detected in New York City public spaces, with evidence of significant levels of contamination in all five boroughs, according to pediatric infectious disease specialist Donna Tyungu who authored a 2020 study tracing the parasite throughout the city."The Bronx had the highest contamination rate (66.7%), while Manhattan had the lowest contamination rate (29.6%)," the study states. "Moreover, infective eggs were only found in the Bronx playgrounds … all other boroughs had eggs in the pre-infectious, unembronyated form."ARE YOU KITTEN ME?

WHY SPRING, SUMMER MEANS ANIMAL SHELTERS ARE EXTRA BUSYA dog owner bends down to pick up his dog's mess in a park.(In Pictures Ltd./Corbis / Getty Images) Nearly 14% of the U.S.

population has been already been exposed, the CDC states. And every year an estimated 70 people – mostly children – are blinded by the disease.THESE 5 PESTS PESTER YOUR PETS MORE DURING WARMER WEATHERDogs and cats with the parasitic disease will shed toxocara eggs in their feces.