Florida county under quarantine after return of invasive African land snail

The people of Pasco County, Florida, have been subjected to the dreaded "Q" word again — quarantine — following the discovery of a giant snail that can harm humans, wildlife, and even houses, Report informs, citing the New York Post.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services confirmed the detection of a giant African land snail in the New Port Richey area of Pasco County on July 3.

The giant African land snail can grow to be around the size of a human fist and has been eradicated twice in Florida in the last 50 years.

The snails pose a severe threat to humans by carrying the parasitic rat lungworm, which can cause meningitis. They also feed off 500 different types of plants and stucco on homes.