Who gets echinococcosis, and how?
The disease is found all over the world where humans are in close contact with dogs and livestock. In the United States, echinococcosis is mostly found in the Southwest and Alaska.
Humans can get echinococcosis by eating food or drinking water contaminated with feces from infected dogs or livestock. Humans can also get this disease by playing with or handling infected dogs or livestock.
Echinococcosis--An Emerging Parasite in the Immigrant Population by M Chrieki, M.D. (American Family Physician September 01, 2002, http://www.aafp.org/afp/20020901/817.html)
Written by familydoctor.org editorial staff