"Giant African Land Snail Triggers Quarantine in South Florida"

A quarantine zone has been established in southern Broward and northern Miami-Dade to contain the spread of giant African land snails, which pose threats to parts of the agriculture industry and human health. The snails eat at least 500 different types of plants and consume plaster and stucco off buildings. They can also carry the parasite rat lungworm, known to cause meningitis in humans. The quarantine area is bounded by Pembroke Road to the north, SW 62nd Avenue to the east, NW 215th Street in Miami-Dade to the south, and South University Drive to the west. The agriculture department will treat properties with a metaldehyde-based molluscicide (snail bait).