The first case of a fox with a dwarf tapeworm in Halland

In 2021, SVA has analyzed droppings from foxes to map the presence of the fox's dwarf

A single fox droppings that were found in August near Källåsberget in Kungsbacka municipality have tested positive.

Although this is the first time the parasite has been found in the municipality, SVA is not surprised.

- We already have findings from different places in the country and we therefore expect that one or two positive answers will emerge when we now do a new monitoring, says Eva Osterman Lind, laboratory veterinarian at SVA.

Previous finds have been found outside Uddevalla in Västra Götaland.

Can infect humans

Infection is uncommon, in very rare cases it can cause disease.

Apart from the fact that SVA recommends washing hands before cooking and when something is to be eaten with the hands, no other general recommendations are introduced for humans.

Hunting dogs that hunt and are trained loose in the area, however, may need to be dewormed more often.

- Dwarf tapeworm infects dogs in the same way as foxes, meaning that they need to eat infected rodents.

The dog does not get sick from dwarf tapeworms, nor does the fox.

Deworming of dogs that eat rodents aims to stop any transmission to rodents in the area or, in rare cases, to their master or mistress.

SVA's survey is financed by the Swedish Board of Agriculture and the plan is for it to last for three years, a total of 3,000 analyzes will be carried out.