(NEWSER) – U. S. salmon lovers feeling bad for those overseas infected with a pesky parasite can start worrying about themselves.
The Japanese broad tapeworm, aka Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense , is usually only found in fish from Asia’s Pacific coasts, CNN reports, but per a study in the CDC’s Emerging Infectious Diseases journal, wild salmon netted in Alaska were also plagued by the parasite.
Researchers now say that could mean salmon caught anywhere off North America’s Pacific coasts could be affected, though the health effects aren’t generally serious. The scientists, however, warn the problem could spread if not remedied: Because salmon is often packed and transported on ice (but not frozen), the tapeworm’s larvae may be able to survive the trip, possibly infecting consumers in Europe, New Zealand, China, and other parts of the US.
