Ferals and disease
In addition to recent controversies about feral cats in Miami-Dade, the public should be aware that serious human parasitic disease (toxocariasis) is carried by both cats and dogs within their intestines.
The disease is usually spread by human ingestion of infected soil or vegetables. It infects the liver and lung, and can cause permanent vision loss in humans.Toxoplasmosis frequently causes scarring of the area of the eye’s retina critical for central vision. Children especially can be exposed to this danger while playing outdoors.
Stanley Spielman, Pinecrest
This story was originally published April 30, 2016 at 1:00 PM with the headline "Ferals and disease."