RFK Jr. is not alone. More than a billion people have parasitic worms

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is running for president as an independent candidate, has been in the news recently for an interview he gave in 2012 where he claimed that "a parasite... had infected my brain and consumed a part of it before dying." A photograph of Kennedy was taken by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images.

The above picture is credited to Michael M. Santiago, a professional photographer. His photo was used for the blog post. Rewritten: The photograph shown above was captured by a skilled photographer named Michael M. Santiago. He was responsible for providing the image used in this blog entry.

This week, there was a buzz surrounding Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is a presidential candidate from a third party. He gained attention due to his deposition from 2012 where he mentioned that "a small creature entered my brain and consumed a section of it before dying."

The photo in this blog post was taken by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images.

"A tiny creature invaded my mind and consumed a part of it before perishing."

These are the type of words that people usually avoid expressing.

A hopeful candidate for the presidency of the United States uttered those words. Recently, The New York Times revealed details from a statement given under oath by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In 2012, Mr. Kennedy disclosed that he had suffered from confusion and forgetfulness and had sought medical aid. Apparently, he had a peculiar brain abnormality, which he discovered upon undergoing a brain scan. He has now confirmed with the same media that he has made a complete recovery without any permanent harm.

This picture zooms in on the front part of a young pork tapeworm and displays its hooks and suckers. The colors in the photo were altered. Recently, parasitic worms have been getting media attention due to reports about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s claim that he was infected by a parasitic worm. He didn't give any details about the specific worm, but researchers suggest that it may have been a pork tapeworm. Science Source provided the image but have kept it anonymous.

This picture displays a close-up of the front side of a pork tapeworm's larva, revealing its suckers and hooks. The colors in this image have been altered. Recently, parasitic worms have been discussed in the media due to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s claim that he was infected by one. However, he did not mention the specific type of worm, although scientists who study worms believe it may have been a pork tapeworm.

This tale has stirred up a lot of interest within the political realm. However, it's not solely focused on the medical history of a single politician. According to the World Health Organization, there are more than a billion individuals who have been affected by parasitic worms. The consequences of this ailment can be grave and longstanding.

NPR had a conversation with Francisca Mutapi, who is an expert in global health infection and immunity at the University of Edinburgh. She has dedicated 25 years of her life in studying parasites. She gave her thoughts on what could have potentially occurred with RFK Jr. and also highlighted how parasitic worms cause immense damage globally. The conversation has been edited to maintain brevity and lucidity.

To kick things off, let's talk about RFK Jr. The information we have about his situation is unclear. What is your intuition regarding the type of parasite that may have affected him and how it could have entered his body?

Honestly, I don't know anything about his situation. Based on my research, it could possibly be an infection called Taeniasis. This type of infection is caused by a parasite found in tropical areas and commonly referred to as tapeworms. These tapeworms can often be found in pigs.

When you contract a tapeworm, often by consuming pork that is not fully cooked or raw, the eggs make their way into your body and proceed to hatch. These newly hatched larvae then travel throughout your body and, depending on where they end up, can lead to a medical condition known as cysticercosis.

Where can these young insects move inside the body and what kind of damage can they cause?

If the larva enters the eyes, it can result in vision that's not clear and may also cause blindness. If it enters the muscles, it may make them weak. However, if it goes into the central nervous system, which includes the spine and brain, it leads to a type of illness known as neurocysticercosis.

The type of illness called neurocysticercosis varies depending on how strong your immune system is, your overall health, and where the larvae have settled. Symptoms may include headaches and seizures. In fact, neurocysticercosis is the main reason why adults develop epilepsy. Additionally, this condition can affect cognitive function and some people might experience difficulties with balance, attention, and confusion. This condition is particularly dangerous if it causes fluid buildup in the brain. In rare cases, it can even lead to death.

What are the chances of this happening in the United States?

The typical occurrence is that you come into contact with parasites while journeying to regions where this ailment is common. Such regions can include Asia, South America, and some areas of Africa. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, close to 1,000 fresh cases of cysticercosis are hospitalized each year in the United States.

What are the choices for getting treated?

To begin with, it's possible to prevent these illnesses through actions such as practising proper food hygiene, ensuring pork is thoroughly cooked, maintaining good hand hygiene, and implementing effective sanitation measures.

If you are unable to prevent the disease, don't fret because treatment is available and the medication works effectively. Praziquantel and albendazole are two commonly used drugs that can eliminate the larvae stage. They are helpful in two ways: eradicating or reducing the parasites, and mitigating some of the disease's pathological effects like inflammation. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary.

Can you provide a wider perspective on the worldwide impact of parasites and specifically, helminths?

Diseases brought about by parasitic worms are typically categorized as neglected tropical diseases, which affect roughly 1.7 billion individuals worldwide.

In Africa, there are more than 200 million individuals who suffer from bilharzia, an illness caused by parasitic worms. This condition can result in various health difficulties such as anemia, blood in one's urine, and cognitive impairments.

This is a massive problem. If you were to gather all the kids worldwide who are affected by bilharzia and have them join hands, they could go around the planet one and a half times. This is just one of the twenty-one ignored tropical diseases and shows the scale of the issue.

Although there may not be many fatalities caused by parasitic worms, the effects on our overall daily wellbeing and capacity to function are significant.

Would you be able to discuss the effects of cysticercosis or any other types of parasitic worms?

Imagine experiencing an epileptic seizure. It becomes challenging to maintain a stable job when frequent seizures occur. Your vision is impacted if the parasite affects your eye, which limits your work options and jeopardizes your safety. Additionally, imbalance struggles create difficulties while moving, ultimately reducing your overall quality of life.

In the Shona language of Zimbabwe, bilharzia is known as the illness that affects thinking ability. Common signs include exhaustion, weak memory and poor cognitive skills in children. Treating it in its early stages leads to a significant enhancement in academic performance and physical capabilities of children.

What actions are being taken internationally to tackle this issue, and are they sufficient?

We are currently implementing measures to combat diseases, however, further action is necessary. Our approach involves using preventative chemotherapy by providing medication to individuals who are at risk of contracting a disease. This enables them to receive treatment before the infection develops into a severe illness. The drugs used in this method are largely donated by international pharmaceutical corporations.

We must intensify our endeavors to expeditiously eradicate such illnesses. To accomplish this, we can boost the number of treatments available. In addition, we can foster innovation in our approaches. Creating vaccines is one such approach.

According to a representative for RFK Jr., he caught the parasite while traveling to various locations in Africa, South America, and Asia as an advocate for the environment. If someone were to visit these areas, what steps could they take to safeguard their health?

In regions where cysticercosis is present, it is possible to enhance cleanliness to prevent individuals from coming into contact with pig excrement or urine. This type of action is both economical and impactful.

As you may have noticed, despite the peculiar RFK JR. tale, it presents a chance to raise awareness about the worldwide issue of parasitic worms.