Health officials in Hamilton, Ont., are urging residents to be vigilant about keeping raccoons out of their yards as they investigate a rare case of a human contracting raccoon roundworm infection.

The infection, which has been found in fewer than 20 people since the first documented case in 1984, is caused by a parasite found in raccoon feces and can cause severe neurological problems if ingested by humans. "The only way for a human to contract the infection is to ingest the eggs," said Dr. Chris Mackie, Hamilton's associate medical officer of health. "These may be transferred on material, such as soil contaminated with raccoon feces."

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