Augusta-Richmond, Ga., is the number one city for hookworm in July, the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) reports. This is according to the group’s monthly Top 10 Cities Hookworm Report, which warns pet owners, veterinarians, and pet-related service providers of U.S. metropolitan areas with the highest percentage increase in positive hookworm tests from the last 30 days. The data shows distribution across the country, with cities in South Dakota, California, Delaware, and Texas all landing on the list of municipalities with the greatest increase of reported incidents. “The recent outbreak of COVID-19, with its animal origin, has made people acutely aware of the close relationship between animal and human health—and the need to regularly monitor disease at the local level,” says CAPC’s chief executive officer, Chris Carpenter, DVM. According to the council, the following U.S. cities have the highest percentage increase in positive canine and feline hookworm tests for the month of July: 1) Augusta-Richmond, Ga. 2) Sioux Falls, S.D. 3) San Francisco, Calif. 4) Dover, Del. 5) Waco, Tex. 6) Newport News, Va. 7) Cedar Rapids, Iowa 8) Manchester, N.H. 9) Paterson, N.J. 10) Fort Collins, Colo. “An increase in hookworm prevalence not only alerts communities to a heightened threat to the health of dogs and cats, but also warns of an increased threat to the health of children and families who can potentially contract hookworm infection,” says CAPC board member, Craig Prior, BVSC, CVJ. A recent study shows a 47 percent increase in the number of canine hookworm cases in the U.S. from 2012 to 2018, CAPC says. In 2018, there were more than 200,000 positive cases of canine hookworm infections nationwide. “This demonstrates how vital it is for dogs and cats to be protected against hookworm parasites with broad-spectrum, year-round preventatives, and, at a minimum, biannual testing,” Dr. Prior says. “By protecting your pet, you are protecting other pets, your family, other families, and your entire community.” To view the report, click here.
